Human rights lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, on Wednesday criticized President Bola Tinubu over his comment that “all is fair in politics”.

Idam said the remark which Tinubu made during his meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, is an invitation to ballot rascality.

In a statement he signed, the constitutional lawyer warned that Tinubu’s remark could be misinterpreted by overzealous supporters as an “open cheque to anarchy and political violence.

Idam said, “The President’s assertion that “all is fair in politics” is an invitation to ballot rascality. Taken literally, it risks being interpreted by overzealous supporters as an open cheque to anarchy, political violence, intolerance, and hostility toward dissenting voices in the name of electoral competition.

“How is a supporter of the President expected to understand that hate speech, intimidation, and violence remain unacceptable when the message conveyed is that “all is fair in politics”? How does such a supporter learn to accommodate opposing opinions without becoming combative after hearing those words from the nation’s highest office?

“Sadly, Mr. President has remained consistent in advancing political stance that market him as uncivilized Democrat. It is not different from his “snatch it, grab it and run away with it” postulation and will definitely encourage every kind of practice to gain vote by politicians, after all, “all is fair in politics.” According to Mr. President.

“If that is indeed the principle being preached, and  others are permitted to rely on the same interpretation without risking arrest or prosecution will the Nigerian society reamain habitable?

Or is the President’s statement intended to enjoy a special interpretation unavailable to everyone else?

“Should the public not give those words their ordinary and literal meaning? If so, how does that differ from the comments made by Omoyele Omoyele Sowore, which became the subject of criminal proceedings? If “all is fair in politics,” should the DSS not reconsider its case against him?

“How else can the President’s statement be reasonably interpreted without inviting negative consequences for political culture?

“Our democracy deserves leadership that promotes civility, restraint, respect for dissent, and fidelity to the rule of law, not rhetoric capable of being construed as an endorsement of political lawlessness.”

An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has warned that the continued attacks by President Bola Tinubu’s aides on leaders of the Catholic Church could alienate millions of Christian voters and undermine the President’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.

Vatsa accused presidential spokespersons Daniel Bwala and Bayo Onanuga of escalating tensions with the Christian community through what he described as unwarranted attacks on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, and Cardinal John Onaiyekan following the bishops’ comments on poverty, hardship and insecurity in the country.

The former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism said the remarks by the presidential aides were politically damaging and capable of deepening the perception that the Tinubu administration was insensitive to the concerns of Christians, especially after the controversy that trailed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

In a statement issued in Minna on Wednesday, Vatsa said the Presidency should have reflected on the issues raised by the bishops instead of allowing its spokespersons to engage in public attacks against respected religious leaders.

According to him, the Catholic bishops merely discharged their moral and spiritual responsibility by drawing the government’s attention to the worsening living conditions of Nigerians, insisting that their intervention was neither political nor motivated by personal interests.

“Their comments and attacks on these highly respected Christian leaders will surely hurt the President in his re-election bid,” Vatsa said.

He added that the bishops did not visit the Presidential Villa to seek contracts, appointments or political patronage but to speak on behalf of millions of Nigerians who could no longer afford three square meals, families devastated by insecurity and kidnapping, and citizens whose livelihoods had been eroded by the harsh economic situation.

Vatsa maintained that rather than discredit the bishops, the government should address the substance of their concerns, arguing that hunger, poverty and insecurity remained everyday realities across many parts of the country.

” Anybody who says there is no extreme hunger and poverty in the country today is carrying the curse of Nigerians on his head. Nigerians are dying every day from hunger and hardship,” he stated.

He further urged Bwala and Onanuga to show greater respect for the Christian faith and the Catholic Church, warning that persistent attacks on prominent Christian leaders could further widen the trust deficit between the government and many Christian faithful.

The APC chieftain insisted that anyone claiming there was no widespread hardship in Nigeria was detached from the realities facing ordinary citizens, stressing that religious leaders had a duty to speak for the voiceless and hold leaders accountable.

He also challenged the presidential aides to tour states such as Borno and Niger to witness firsthand the impact of insecurity, displacement and economic hardship on citizens, instead of dismissing the concerns expressed by the bishops.

Vatsa concluded that the administration would earn greater public confidence by listening to constructive criticism and addressing the country’s economic and security challenges rather than attacking those who speak out on behalf of suffering Nigerians.

Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has called for the devolution of power as a lasting solution to Nigeria’s governance challenges, arguing that excessive concentration of authority at the centre has contributed to many of the country’s persistent problems.

Mimiko made the call while speaking on the topic, “The Government and Politics Mountain,” during the Pastors’ Seed Event at the 74th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), themed “Mountain Movers.”

Drawing lessons from the Bible, the former governor highlighted what he described as the “Jethro Principle,” referencing the advice given to Moses by his father-in-law, Jethro, to delegate responsibilities to capable leaders in order to ensure effective administration.

According to him, governance works best when authority and resources are devolved to lower levels of government, allowing local leaders to address local challenges while the federal government focuses on national issues.

“The Jethro Principle teaches that effective governance must be based on merit, competence and capacity. Power and responsibility should be moved closer to the people so that local problems can be solved locally,” he said.

Mimiko noted that a highly centralised system is ill-suited for a diverse country like Nigeria, stressing that true federalism requires empowering sub-national governments to make decisions that directly affect their communities.

He acknowledged ongoing efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to decentralise areas such as policing, resource management and decision-making but maintained that broader structural reforms are needed to address systemic governance failures.

The former Minister of Housing and Urban Development further argued that centralisation has fuelled challenges including insecurity, corruption, poverty, poor leadership and ethnic tensions.

“Centralised government cannot effectively manage a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious nation like Nigeria. Leaders closest to the people should be empowered to solve the problems closest to the people,” he stated.

Mimiko also urged Christians and Nigerians of all faiths to actively participate in politics and governance, describing government as a critical sphere of influence that shapes national development.

He stressed that politics should not be seen merely as a struggle for power but as a platform for promoting the common good, adding that citizens must combine prayer with active civic engagement to achieve national renewal.