This declaration came during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today amidst the ongoing discourse surrounding a meeting between President Tinubu and Catholic bishops, which was spotlighted by John Cardinal Onaiyekan. Kalu defended the President, asserting that Tinubu had not insulted the bishops and therefore owed no apologies. He expressed confidence in Tinubu’s respect for the Catholic Church, emphasizing the President’s longstanding friendship with it.

Kalu remarked that there was no wrongdoing in the bishops voicing their concerns to Tinubu, insisting that he is not an adversary of the Church. He elaborated that the comments made by Onaiyekan following the meeting should not be considered the official stance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. Kalu noted the public nature of the discussions with the presence of cameras, suggesting that Onaiyekan’s opinions might not reflect those of the other bishops.

He pointed out that the communiqué following the meeting was conveyed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, indicating that individual bishops possess the right to their own perspectives. The conversation commenced after Onaiyekan communicated to journalists that the bishops had conveyed to Tinubu the dire state of Nigeria, asserting that the nation was “bleeding” and that many citizens were enduring severe economic challenges. However, Kalu stated that Tinubu disagreed with the bishops regarding the assessment of the economy.