The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah yesterday replied critics to his December 25, 2020 homily in which he alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was using nepotism to push a northern hegemony while reducing other parts of the country to second-class status.
The cleric had, in the message entitled ‘A nation in search of vindication’ stated that the president had deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him and pursued a self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war.
“The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions. He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country.
“However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North,” he stated.
Kukah’s message instantly became a bombshell that jolted the president’s minders from deep slumber and in their effort to defend their principal called for the cleric’s head.
The attacks on Kukah came from the minister of information and culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, the president’s special assistant on social media, Ms Lauretta Onochie, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), among others while his defence team consisted of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) while called on the federal government to look into the concerns raised in the message.
Reacting to those baying for his blood, Kukah said it is a misconception for anyone to report that he called for a violent overthrow of the government.
He said he had no problem with Buhari, but with his leadership style.
“The loss of lives in the last 10 years, even before the advent of this administration, calls for concern.
“The reactions are a reflection of every citizen that makes up Nigeria. It is sad that when you drop something in Nigeria, everybody goes back to their enclave and abandons the larger picture. I am someone who never takes offence to what people say about me.
“What I said was my opinion based on evidence and what has happened in Nigeria, and if you looked into the records, there is evidence that justifies that statement, and if anyone thinks I am wrong, they should come out with a superior position.
“It is unfair for a journalist or news medium to report that I called for a coup while expressing my personal view about Nigeria,” he said.
The bishop also dismissed the challenge to him by his critics to drop his cassock and join politics, saying if he were to join politics it would have been during the time of the late Aminu Kano.
“There is no Catholic Priest available for party politics in Nigeria. I have no plan and will never play partisan politics for any reason. Those who link my message to partisan politics are only playing to the gallery.
“Take, for instance, brilliant Nigerian youths making comments about Chelsea or Arsenal and have never been to England, does that make them players of such club sides?
“So, why will someone think because Bishop Kukah is speaking therefore he is a politician? People who make this argument are totally ignorant of elementary politics and ignorant of the role of a priest.
“The truth is that a lot of us have not seen a priest saying what I am saying. The truth of the matter is we are all in politics; but party politics for me, no. I am not a member of any political party and I cannot be. If it comes to voting, I do my right.
“Whatever I said can please or displease anyone, but that is my own opinion and doesn’t stop others from saying their own opinion. If you think my motive is wrong, say yours,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has asked the federal government to address concerns raised by Kukah instead of intimidating and sponsoring attacks on him.
ECWA, in a statement in Kaduna by its general secretary, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, regretted that there had been uncharitable comments in reaction to Kukah’s Christmas day message, especially from some northern groups and Muslims groups despite the glaring truth the bishop said about the Buhari presidency.
In the statement tilted, “Bishop Kukah spoke our minds and nothing must happen to him,” Nmadu said there was nothing new about what Kukah said as he spoke the minds of many Nigerians.
“I have read so many reactions to the Christmas message of our respected Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, with many of them coming from Muslim and Northern groups.
“Some of these uncharitable groups have even called for the arrest of our revered bishop. Arrest a man that spoke the minds of millions of Nigerians. They must be joking,” Nmadu said.
ECWA warned that no harm must befall Kukah, adding that it will resist any attempt by any group or agency of government to harm him.
“This style of governance to silent dissent voices by the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is unacceptable and must be resisted.
“We invite the international community and Nigerians to hold General Buhari and his government responsible should anything happen to Bishop Kukah.
“As a matter of fact, nepotism under General Buhari administration is topnotch. This administration has a first class in nepotism and maladministration.
“The federal government must immediately take steps towards addressing those concerns raised by Bishop Kukah, rather than sponsoring fake groups to attack the revered bishop.
“There is no denying the fact that Nigeria under Buhari is now a centre of bloodshed. Killings, banditry, kidnappings and all forms of insecurities are now order of the day,” ECWA added.
It urged the president to face the job for which he swore to do and fulfill his campaign promises, secure the country and make life better for all Nigerians.
Also in defence of Kukah, a coalition of Nigerian Muslim Professionals asked those vilifying him to sheathe their swords
It said the country would be a better place if there were two or three persons like the bishop.
In a statement by its national coordinator, Prof. Mohammed Inuwa, the group urged the president to take Kukah’s message as a wake-up call.
The coalition noted that while President Buhari may have meant well for the country, some of his actions do not promote unity.
It condemned attacks on Kukah saying the bishop is too learned to support an ignoble path of a coup.
“Even during the military era where people dreaded the powers that be at the time, Bishop Kukah, who was then a Catholic priest, spoke truth to those at the helm of affairs without fear or favour.
“He has shown through his actions all the years that he is a true son of Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
“We should support him for being bold enough to come out to speak what many Nigerians know is the truth but afraid to speak out for fear of the leadership.
“While we must admit that President Muhammad Buhari means well for the nation, we must say that most people in his government are grossly incompetent and don’t deserve to stay around power even in an uncivilised space,” it added.
