The former Anambra State governor defended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying the body has consistently served as a moral voice rather than a political opposition. Drawing from his experience as governor of Anambra State, Obi said constructive criticism from traditional rulers and religious leaders contributed to the success of his administration. Obi described the recent attacks on the CBCN and Cardinal John Onaiyekan as unfortunate, recalling that even during the military era, religious leaders who criticised government policies were not subjected to similar treatment. He further accused some presidential aides of attempting to portray the criticism by Catholic bishops as a religious issue instead of addressing the substance of their concerns. Obi questioned whether insecurity, poverty, inflation and unemployment were problems limited to any particular religion or ethnic group.