Oseni’s comments followed remarks by Onaiyekan, who recently disclosed that President Tinubu disagreed with concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over the country’s economic situation, insecurity and political climate.
The bishops met with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on July 28, where they presented their assessment of the challenges facing Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV last Friday, Onaiyekan said the President rejected the bishops’ assessment of the country’s condition.
“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine. Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” the cleric said.
The remarks drew criticism from some presidential media aides, who argued that Onaiyekan was expressing his personal views rather than speaking for the entire Catholic community.
Reacting to the controversy during a television programme on Monday, Oseni accused the APC of applying double standards to the cleric’s criticism.
He recalled that members of the opposition party had praised Onaiyekan when he criticised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
“In November 2014, a certain Cardinal Onaiyekan came to the villa and said things were not well in the country. This same APC called Cardinal John Onaiyekan a voice of reason. They praised him to the high heavens,” Oseni said.
He questioned why the party and its supporters were now attacking the same cleric for criticising the current administration.
“This same APC! They said everything good about Cardinal John Onaiyekan. Many of them saw him as the symbol of speaking truth to power. They were happy to take pictures with him in public. They took Cardinal Onaiyekan's criticism and lapped it up,” he added.
Oseni asked what had changed between 2014, when Onaiyekan criticised the then government, and the present administration.
“The question we should ask now is, what changed? Isn't Cardinal Onaiyekan a bastion of speaking truth to power anymore?” he asked.
He further accused government supporters of hypocrisy, arguing that Nigerians across different sections of society were feeling the effects of the country’s economic difficulties.
“Can't you see that your hypocrisy speaks so loudly that people cannot hear what you say?” Oseni said.
The media personality maintained that criticism of government should not be condemned simply because the administration being criticised had changed, stressing the need for those in power to tolerate opposing views.
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