In a recent statement via his official X account on Tuesday August 4, 2026, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has continued to defend Cardinal John Onaiyekan amid criticism from supporters of President Bola Tinubu following the cleric’s remarks on the state of the nation. ‎”You expect people who paraded fake bishops to listen to a real Cardinal?”. ‎In his post, Effiong took a swipe at those attacking the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, he suggested that individuals who previously associated with controversial religious figures were now unwilling to pay attention to the concerns raised by a respected Catholic cardinal. ‎Effiong condemned what he described as attempts to ridicule Cardinal Onaiyekan, he argued that the cleric deserved respect because of his long-standing reputation and contributions to national discourse. ‎Effiong maintained that respected religious leaders should not become targets of personal attacks simply because they express opinions on national issues, according to him, disagreement with a public figure’s views should not result in insults or attempts to discredit the individual.