FAKE NEWS ALERT: Statement distancing Nigerian Catholics from partisan politics not from Catholic youth group
A statement circulating on social media and attributed to the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) did not originate from the association.
The statement, signed “Yours fraternally in Christ” without any named official, claimed to represent the position of Catholic youths on political neutrality and urged church leaders to refrain from partisan political comments.
However, TheCable observed several inconsistencies that cast doubt on the document’s authenticity.
The logo used on the letter differs from the official logo of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria.
The document also bears the header “CATHOLIC YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CYON)” instead of the organisation’s correct name, “Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON).”
To verify the claim, TheCable contacted Gosife Eze, CYON national president, who dismissed the statement as fake.
Eze said the document did not emanate from CYON and urged members of the public to disregard it.
BACKGROUND
The fake statement surfaced amid public debate over comments by John Onaiyekan, cardinal and former archbishop of Abuja, who recently said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration appeared determined to win the 2027 general election “by all means”.
The remarks drew criticism from the presidency, with Daniel Bwala, presidential spokesperson, saying the cleric was expressing a personal opinion and not speaking on behalf of all Christians.
In response to the controversy, the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN) defended Onaiyekan, saying his comments were motivated by concern for Nigeria’s future rather than malice.
The council maintained that the cardinal’s intervention was intended to call the nation’s leaders to conscience and should not be interpreted as an attack on the government.