Bishops Back Tinubu, Allege Sponsors Behind Banditry to Discredit His Government

The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has alleged that some individuals are sponsoring banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Kawas made the claim while defending the bishops’ recent endorsement of Tinubu for a second term during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.

The cleric insisted that the endorsement was not financially motivated, saying no money had been given to the bishops in exchange for their support for the President.

“Today, this endorsement has not given us any one naira. No one naira has been given to us,” Kawas said, adding that the bishops acted based on their assessment of developments in the country.

He alleged that insecurity was being deliberately exploited by unnamed individuals seeking to give Tinubu’s government a bad reputation and frustrate its efforts. Kawas also claimed that international intelligence supported the existence of such activities, although he did not provide specific intelligence reports or identify those allegedly behind the sponsorship.

The bishop compared the situation with the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that similar efforts were allegedly made at the time to portray the former president negatively.

Kawas said the bishops therefore believed Tinubu remained the candidate they should support despite the security challenges facing the country. He said their endorsement was based on conviction rather than any financial benefit.

The cleric also recalled the bishops’ support for Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, saying the absence of financial inducement did not stop them from backing him at the time. He maintained that political support should ultimately be based on which candidate an organisation believes is suitable.

Kawas’ comments come as insecurity remains a major political issue ahead of the 2027 elections, with the Tinubu administration facing pressure over persistent attacks, kidnapping and terrorism. His claims about alleged sponsors of the violence, however, remain allegations and were not accompanied by specific evidence in the interview.