Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has urged Nigeria’s Catholic bishops to continue holding the Tinubu administration accountable while also acknowledging what he described as the government’s achievements in infrastructure, security and the economy.

Sani’s intervention comes amid growing debate over President Bola Tinubu’s performance following recent criticism by former Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who accused the administration of failing to address worsening economic hardship and suggested the President was not receiving accurate information about conditions facing ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops had frankly informed President Tinubu during a recent meeting at the State House that millions of Nigerians were struggling under severe economic pressure.

He also expressed concern that Tinubu appeared determined to secure re-election in 2027 “by all means,” warning that the advantages of incumbency could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

The remarks drew a sharp response from the Presidency, with the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, describing the Cardinal’s comments as politically motivated. Bwala argued that Onaiyekan spoke only for Catholics and not the wider Christian community, insisting that official data supported the administration’s assessment of the economy.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Sani acknowledged the Catholic Church’s longstanding role in shaping national discourse, promoting moral values and holding governments accountable.

He, however, urged the bishops to assess the Tinubu administration against the challenges it inherited rather than judging it in isolation.

“We appreciate what Tinubu has achieved in infrastructure, security and the economy,” Sani said, while urging Catholic leaders to “encourage the President to achieve more.”

According to him, the Catholic hierarchy, respected for its integrity and moral authority, has an important responsibility to ensure government accountability while recognising areas where progress has been made.

He argued that developments in road infrastructure, security and the economy should be evaluated against the state of the country before the current administration assumed office.

“The role the Catholic leaders have played in the past is appreciated, but they should compare the situation of the country before the present administration,” he said.

Sani also called on the bishops to sustain their engagement with the government, stressing that such interventions should be grounded in facts, evidence and practical recommendations.

He said constructive engagement between religious leaders and government would strengthen accountability and help the administration deliver greater dividends of democracy.

Despite urging the bishops to recognise the administration’s achievements, Sani defended their right to criticise government.

In a post on his verified X account on Saturday, the former lawmaker rejected suggestions that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) had become partisan, insisting that the bishops have consistently spoken truth to power regardless of who occupies the presidency.

“From the era of military rule and throughout the period of civilian governments, the Catholic Bishops have a consistent history of telling truth to power,” Sani wrote.

He noted that successive presidents had received the same candid counsel from the Catholic leadership irrespective of political affiliation.

In a symbolic reference to the bishops’ approach, Sani remarked that they traditionally presented presidents with bitter kola rather than olive oil, suggesting they preferred honest counsel to flattering endorsements.

His comments add to the ongoing national debate over the role of religious leaders in governance, as discussions over economic reforms, accountability and preparations for the 2027 general election continue to intensify.