Abuja: John Cardinal Onaiyekan has offered a blunt and sobering diagnosis of Nigeria’s worsening social, political, and economic situation, insisting that the country’s troubles are largely the result of human choices rather than destiny or external pressures.
Speaking in an interview with ACI Africa on the margins of celebrations marking his 82nd birthday on January 31, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja said Nigeria’s crisis stems from entrenched selfishness, dishonesty, and a failure of moral wisdom.
“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.”
According to the Cardinal, Nigeria’s inability to recognize shared humanity and collective responsibility has fueled widening inequality, rising insecurity, and deepening mistrust among citizens. He warned that true happiness cannot be achieved in isolation and cautioned leaders who enrich themselves at society’s expense that they are destroying the very environment in which they seek comfort and success.
“You can’t be happy alone,” he stressed, adding that no amount of personal wealth can compensate for “a society filled with anger, poverty, and despair.”
Cardinal Onaiyekan expressed deep concern that politics in Nigeria has drifted far from its purpose of service and has instead become a fierce contest for power and access to public resources.
“Who is thinking about the people? Who is thinking about the poor? Who is thinking about the future?” he asked, describing the current political culture as deeply troubling.
Turning to the country’s electoral system, the Cardinal sharply criticized what he described as the normalization of electoral malpractice. Recalling Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, he said instances of rigging were evident to the public, yet institutions entrusted with protecting democracy appeared unwilling to act.
“Everybody saw that there was rigging happening,” he said, accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to realities that were plain to see.
He further lamented that ordinary Nigerians have little real choice at the ballot box, as political parties effectively impose candidates on the electorate.
“Our choice has been considerably limited by the fact that the political system leaves the choice of candidates in the hands of politicians,” he noted. “At the end of the day, it’s all within the clique of politicians.”
The Cardinal also questioned the effectiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), pointing to the vast sums of public money spent on the body without corresponding improvements in credibility or performance.
While acknowledging the appointment of a new INEC chairman, Cardinal Onaiyekan argued that changing individuals without reforming systems would not solve Nigeria’s electoral challenges.
“Have we changed the INEC chairman? Yes. Have we changed the INEC system? That is the problem,” he said, warning that without structural reform, the nation would continue to suffer from “self-inflicted wounds.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s growing inequality, the Cardinal expressed dismay at a society where diligent work often yields little reward, while others prosper with minimal effort. He urged those who enjoy material success to recognize God’s role in their fortunes and to show solidarity with the less privileged.
“It seems to be the order of the day in Nigeria now that people are working hard and getting very little,” he observed.
On a personal note, Cardinal Onaiyekan shared reflections on ageing, saying his years have taught him to cherish each day as a gift.
“When I go to sleep and wake up in the morning, I say, ‘Here’s another day for me,’” he said with characteristic warmth.
While affirming his readiness for eternal life, he spoke without fear or haste. “I’m not in a hurry to die. I will not kill myself. But I’m not afraid to go. My boarding pass is ready—the destination is paradise. Direct flight, non-stop.”
The Cardinal also used the occasion to caution religious leaders against pride and self-glorification, reminding them that all gifts and achievements ultimately come from God. Quoting Saint Paul, he asked pointedly, “What is it that you have that has not been given to you?”
His remarks offered both a moral critique and a call to conscience, urging Nigerians especially those in positions of influence to confront uncomfortable truths and take responsibility for rebuilding a just and humane society.