John Cardinal Onaiyekan has described Nigeria’s worsening social, political, and economic situation as “self-inflicted” and rooted in human failure rather than destiny or external forces.
Speaking in an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of celebrations marking his 82nd birthday on January 31, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja said Nigeria’s predicament is driven by selfishness, dishonesty, and lack of wisdom, especially among those in leadership.
“Our problems in the country are self-inflicted,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said. “They are self-inflicted because people are selfish, people are dishonest, and people are not wise.”
The Nigerian Cardinal warned that the refusal to acknowledge shared humanity and collective responsibility has fuelled inequality, insecurity, and mistrust across the nation. He stressed that personal wealth and power cannot shield anyone from the consequences of a broken society.
“You can’t be happy alone,” he said, cautioning leaders who enrich themselves at the expense of others that no amount of wealth can compensate for “a society filled with anger, poverty, and despair.”
Cardinal Onaiyekan lamented that Nigerian politics has drifted away from public service and become a fierce contest for power and access to national resources.
“Who is thinking about the people? Who is thinking about the poor? Who is thinking about the future?” he asked, describing the situation as “very sad.”
Turning to the country’s electoral process, the Cardinal strongly criticized the normalization of election rigging, recalling the 2023 general elections.
“Everybody saw that there was rigging happening,” he said, accusing institutions meant to safeguard democracy of deliberately ignoring what was plainly visible.
He also decried a political system that limits citizens’ choices by allowing political parties and elite groups to impose candidates.
“Our choice has been considerably limited,” he said. “At the end of the day… it’s all within the clique of politicians.”
On electoral reforms, Cardinal Onaiyekan questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s electoral body despite massive public funding, faulting the system rather than individuals alone.
“We have changed the INEC chairman. Have we changed the INEC system? That is the problem,” he said, warning that without structural reform, Nigerians will continue to suffer from “self-inflicted wounds.”
The Cardinal further expressed concern about deepening inequality in Africa’s most populous nation, where hard work often goes unrewarded while others prosper effortlessly. He urged those who enjoy material success to recognize God’s hand in their fortunes and show solidarity with the less privileged.
Reflecting on life at 82, Cardinal Onaiyekan said ageing has taught him to treasure each day as a gift.
“When I go to sleep, and I wake up in the morning, hey, here’s another day for me,” he said with characteristic candor, adding that while he is not afraid of death, he is in no hurry to meet it.
“My boarding pass is ready,” he said. “The destination is paradise. Direct flight, non-stop.”
This story was adapted from an interview first published by ACI Africa.
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