Media personality Rufai Oseni has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and officials of President Bola Tinubu's administration of hypocrisy over their criticism of Cardinal John Onaiyekan following his recent remarks on the state of the nation.

Cardinal Onaiyekan, speaking in an interview on Arise TV, disclosed that President Tinubu disagreed with concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during their meeting with him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 28.

The bishops had expressed worries over the country's worsening economic situation, insecurity and political climate, urging the government to address the growing hardship facing Nigerians.

According to Onaiyekan, President Tinubu dismissed their assessment, insisting that his administration was making progress.

"When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine. Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us," the cardinal said.

His comments drew criticism from some presidential media aides, who argued that Onaiyekan was expressing his personal opinion and not the position of all Catholics.

Reacting during a programme on Arise TV on Monday morning, Rufai Oseni faulted the attacks, describing them as evidence of political double standards.

Oseni recalled that in November 2014, when Cardinal Onaiyekan criticised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, many APC leaders applauded him and portrayed him as a courageous voice speaking truth to power.

According to the broadcaster, those same politicians are now attacking the cleric simply because his criticism is directed at the Tinubu administration.

"In November 2014, Cardinal Onaiyekan came to the Villa and said things were not well in the country. This same APC called Cardinal John Onaiyekan a voice of reason. They praised him to the high heavens. They said everything good about Cardinal John Onaiyekan. Many of them saw him as the symbol of speaking truth to power. They were happy to take pictures with him in public. They took Cardinal Onaiyekan's criticism and lapped it up.

"The question we should ask now is: What changed? Isn't Cardinal Onaiyekan a bastion of speaking truth to power anymore? Was there no problem with Onaiyekan speaking truth to power against Goodluck Jonathan?"

Oseni further argued that the ruling party's response exposed what he described as glaring hypocrisy, insisting that many government officials were themselves aware of the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

"Can't you see that your hypocrisy speaks so loudly that people cannot hear what you say? Can't you see that you are also suffering the economic pangs in this country, that more people are asking you for money and depending on you because you are in government? Can't you see that it is hypocritical?" he said.