APC uneasy over Cardinal Onaiyekan’s claims on ‘rigged 2023 elections’

Camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been thrown into uneasiness following comments credited to the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan who had claimed, Thursday, that the just-concluded February 25, 2023 Presidential elections in the country was rigged, adding further the country’s constitution and electoral laws were ‘anomalous’ in allowing a president-elect to be sworn even while court litigation were in process.

According to Cardinal Onaiyekan, who was speaking as guest on a Channel Television programme, ‘while the court may not know the truth, the people who executed the rigging know…and the wonderful thing is that God himself knows them.’

Swiftly reacting to the claims by Cardinal Onaiyekan, APC’s spokespersons, Femi Fani-Kayode and Festus Keyamo doubled down on the cleric, while calling him ‘unstatesmanlike and

While Keyamo called Cardinal Onaiyekan ‘a man of God that is talking unadulterated poppycock,’ Fani-Kayode said the cleric’s ‘soulish prayers to stop the swearing in of Asiwaju will not work because we are praying for him. Neither will he be sick or will he die.’

Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has declared that the just-concluded February 25, 2023  Presidential elections in the country was rigged, adding however, that while the court may not know the truth, the people who executed the plot know, ‘And the wonderful thing is that God himself knows them.’

Speaking as guest on a Channels Television’s programme, Thursday, Cardinal Onaiyekan further decried the electoral laws of the country and the position of the constitution which allows for the swearing in of a winning candidate even while the case is still in court, saying the situation is ‘anomalous.’

According to the 80-year-old Catholic cleric, he still believes in a new Nigeria, as he enthused that ‘it is possible.’

“I am 80, so I am not going anywhere. I am still dreaming that before I go to paradise, I should see a better Nigeria, and I believe it is possible.

“Those who rigged the election know they did it. Those who refused to allow the people’s will to prevail, they know. And the wonderful thing is that God himself knows them.

“Even the court may not know, but God knows them. And they know themselves.

“The more we mention God is the more we should be on guard not to be using the name of God in vain.

“There are countries that did not want to mention God, but they are running their affairs well.

“But if we decide to keep mentioning God, then we must run our affairs according to the will of God”.

Also commenting on Nigeria’s electoral laws which allows for winning candidates to be sworn in even while court litigation is going on, Cardinal Onaiyekan described the system as ‘not right.’

Specifically, the Catholic cleric expressed displeasure that the inauguration of Bola Tinubu will go ahead on May 29, this year despite the petitions filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is yet to heard at the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal, where both presented evidence challenging the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer as president-elect.

According to Cardinal Onaiyekan, ‘it doesn’t make much sense’ for President-elect Bola Tinubu to be sworn in before the conclusion of the election tribunal fixed May 8 for hearing.

Onaiyekan said that the system of electioneering in the nation should be reviewed, noting that it would produce winners who don’t have the shadow of the court lurking behind their victory.

“There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.

“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.

“I know it has happened with governors but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases. I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.

“It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.

“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said.

However, reacting via his Twitter handle (@)fKeyamo, Thursday, the current Minister of State for Labour and Employment, blasted the Cardinal Onaiyekan for being ‘unstatesmanlike,’ as he cited the cases of Umar Yar’adua and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who were also sworn in as resident even while petitions were still in court.

According to Keyamo, ‘A statesman who doubles as a Man of God should strive to be fair to all. You didn’t say the same thing when Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari were all sworn in as Presidents when their cases were still before the courts.’

“Dear daddy Onaiyekan, you know we all respect you a lot, but your political comments are becoming unstatesmanlike.

“A statesman who doubles as a Man of God should strive to be fair to all. You didn’t say the same thing when Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari were all sworn in as Presidents when their cases were still before the courts.

“You have chosen to single out this President- Elect @officialABAT this time around because the candidate you and your other religious brethren openly supported lost the election and you all feel humiliated and embarrassed. All issues raised against the victory of @officialABAT in court now (whether it is 25% votes in FCT or the fake drug issue, etc), are not different from issues raised against previous Presidents-elect because basically the complaints have always been that the declared victor did not win the election fair and square or was not qualified to contest the election. No disqualifying issue against a candidate can be greater than other disqualifying issues since a single issue can decide a case against a President-elect.

“So, why all the fuse now? It has always been our electoral template since 1999 for the declared winners to be sworn into office in order TO AVOID A VACUUM and not to foist an unconstitutional contraption on the system whist the cases are in court.

“My dear daddy, may I respectfully advise that going forward, you and your brethren may consider stepping back from the deep and murky waters of politics and desist from descending into the arena of political conflicts where your children in your congregations find themselves on different sides of political divides, so it would be unfair to them for you to openly take sides.

“The embarrassment to the Body of Christ is getting too much and no politician is worth dragging this dignified body into unnecessary political controversy. Is this too much to ask, daddy?” Keyamo wrote, Thursday.

In another post by Keyamo, the minister said: “All your soulish prayers to stop the swearing in of Asiwaju will not work because we are praying for him. Neither will he be sick or will he die.”

 “My dear Pastor, friend and brother,

“I will not mention your name here because of the profound respect and love I have had for you over the last 20 years but permit me to share the following with you publicly so that other men of God that think like you may learn a thing or two from it as well.

You are questioning @officialABAT, God’s anointed one and choice for President, and you are telling us to keep quiet and not speak against Bishop John Onaiyekan, a man of God that is talking unadulterated poppycock, that clearly did not hear from God and that has soiled his hands in the murky waters of politics by venturing an ill-thought out and ill-advised opinion?

I have tried to be polite in my responses on this issue but your attitude (which mirrors and reflects that of am increasing number of our Pastors) is a bit much.

Let me remind you that Christianity is not a religion for slaves and every Christian has a right to make his or her own choices when it comes to politics.

We are not servants or slaves to our Pastors but children of the Living God.

The minute you tell me that your Pastor can never be wrong I know that you are in error, that you have become his slave and that you are no longer God’s servant or child.

A Christian cannot be compelled to vote for his Pastor’s candidate or to wish ill, speak evil of, pray against and seek to destroy a man that won a free and fair election but who his so-called Pastor does not want sworn as President.

It is all a matter of choice and we must all live with the consequences, whether good or bad, of the choices that we make.

The Nigerian people have spoken and we must all submit to their will and accept.

That is what democracy is all about. You do not have to like the winner but you must accept the fact that he won.

You treat me and others with contempt because we supported a Muslim/Muslim ticket and you dare to question our faith and calling as Christians simply because of that.

Is this rational, reasonable or fair? Does it make sense? Did God tell you that only a Christian believer can and must rule our nation?

Should matters of faith affect rational reasoning or common sense?

You want me to say that an @PeterObi is better equipped to lead our country than a Tinubu simply because he is a Christian? Is that not madness?

Worse still you say I should not condemn, criticise or oppose any Pastor or Bishop that says that our leader and President-elect must not be sworn in on May 29th because, according to you, he is “not God’s choice”?

If he is not God’s choice then kindly tell me who is? Is it Obi or Atiku or is it the one that you say and believe will lead an ING?

In any case are you the only one that hears from God? Does God discriminate on religious grounds or make mistakes?

Is a good Muslim with an impressive record of good performance in public office not far better than a lousy Christian that has no record at all?

Simply because we do not agree with your choice and we support Tinubu does not make us any less Christian.

Even the greatest and most respected and reverred men of God are not infallible.

From time to time they, like every other human being, make mistakes.

All your soulish prayers to stop the swearing in of Asiwaju will not work because we are praying for him. Neither will he be sick or will he die.

“We shall meet you in the realms and counter your evil petitions and at the end of the day, we shall prevail, God’s will shall be done and His counsel shall stand.

“Glory to Nigeria! “

Also reacting, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, posting via his Twitter handle ((@realFFK), Thursday, wrote:

“I will not mention your name here because of the profound respect and love I have had for you over the last 20 years but permit me to share the following with you publicly so that other men of God that think like you may learn a thing or two from it as well.

“You are questioning  @officialABAT, God’s anointed one and choice for President, and you are telling us to keep quiet and not speak against Bishop John Onaiyekan, a man of God that is talking unadulterated poppycock, that clearly did not hear from God and that has soiled his hands in the murky waters of politics by venturing an ill-thought out and ill-advised opinion?

“I have tried to be polite in my responses on this issue but your attitude (which mirrors and reflects that of am increasing number of our Pastors) is a bit much.

“Let me remind you that Christianity is not a religion for slaves and every Christian has a right to make his or her own choices when it comes to politics.

“We are not servants or slaves to our Pastors but children of the Living God.

“The minute you tell me that your Pastor can never be wrong I know that you are in error, that you have become his slave and that you are no longer God’s servant or child.

“A Christian cannot be compelled to vote for his Pastor’s candidate or to wish ill, speak evil of, pray against and seek to destroy a man that won a free and fair election but who his so-called Pastor does not want sworn as President.

“It is all a matter of choice and we must all live with the consequences, whether good or bad, of the choices that we make.

The Nigerian people have spoken and we must all submit to theur will and accept.

That is what democracy is all about. You do not have to like the winner but you must accept the fact that he won.

“You treat me and others with contempt because we supported a Muslim/Muslim ticket and you dare to question our faith and calling as Christians simply because of that.

Is this rational, reasonable or fair? Does it make sense? Did God tell you that only a Christian believer can and must rule our nation?

“Should matters of faith affect rational reasoning or common sense?

You want me to say that an @PeterObi is better equipped to lead our country than a Tinubu simply because he is a Christian? Is that not madness?

“Worse still you say I should not condemn, criticise or oppose any Pastor or Bishop that says that our leader and President-elect must not be sworn in on May 29th because, according to you, he is “not God’s choice”?

“If he is not God’s choice then kindly tell me who is? Is it Obi or Atiku or is it the one that you say and believe will lead an ING?

In any case are you the only one that hears from God? Does God discriminate on religious grounds or make mistakes?

Is a good Muslim with an impressive record of good performance in public office not far better than a lousy Christian that has no record at all?

Simply because we do not agree with your choice and we support Tinubu does not make us any less Christian.

Even the greatest and most respected and reverred men of God are not infallible.

From time to time they, like every other human being, make mistakes.

All your soulish prayers to stop the swearing in of Asiwaju will not work because we are praying for him. Neither will he be sick or will he die.

We shall meet you in the realms and counter your evil petitions and at the end of the day, we shall prevail, God’s will shall be done and His counsel shall stand.

Glory to Nigeria!

(FFK)

The former minister also returned with another tweet:

“To Cardinal John Onaiyekan and those that share his views that the swearing in of our President-elect should be postponed until after the Election Tribunal has delivered its judgement I say the following.

“The Nigerian people have spoken and the Deep State conspiracy to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from becoming President failed long ago.

“We are well past that stage and you cannot stop a moving train.

“Those that have hardened their hearts and that have refused to accept God’s will and admonition to let Asiwaju and the Nigerian people go shall, like Pharaoh, perish before our very eyes.

“Those that are filled with bitterness, hate, envy, fury and rage and that seek to pursue us into the Red Sea as we make our way to the Promise Land shall be drowned by it.

“Whether they like it or not, God-willing, the President-elect SHALL be sworn in on May 29th and those that want him dead or wish him ill shall see the grave long before he does.

“This is the doing of the Lord and it is marvellous in our sight.

“(FFK)”