The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Father Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said that he has no personal issues with President Muhammadu Buhari or his administration but with the way the president handles the security and economic challenges in the country.
The Catholic cleric stated this in an interview with journalists at St Barkitha Catholic Secretariat, Sokoto.
“Ours has become a house of horror with fear stalking our homes, highways, cities, hamlets and communities as bandits and insurgents maim lives at will,” he said.
Kukah also accused the president of lopsided appointments stressing that such has caused divisions and agitations in the country.
“All what I have been clamouring for are not personal. There are two issues that bother me with this administration. One is the quantum of loss of lives and I don’t think there is anybody who is happy about this.
“The second is the allocation of position with favouritism and nepotism. One thing lacking in this administration is the inability to manage our sense of diversity.
“I have always been a critic of government before this administration and I stand on my challenge to those who don’t reason along with me to counter my position with superior argument.
“Nigerians are still to learn how to disagree on the disagreeable. We are still to learn how to debate without argument and we are still to agree that some of our best friends are those that criticise us. Criticism is not an abuse; it is what purifies democracy,” he said.
He maintained that he was not bothered about which region or religion produces the president, but he is only interested in good governance.
He further said he has a cordial relationship with the president stressing that Buhari’s sycophants were trying to sow seed of discord between him and the administration.
“If I pick my phone and call Mr. President now he will pick. The other time he missed my calls he called me back and we greeted. But you know some people cry more than the bereaved.
“In a developed country, when you speak the truth you will be celebrated. Look at how people are celebrating late Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, but here people tag you as an enemy of government,” he added.
He supported Buhari’s withholding of assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 saying the issue of direct and indirect primaries should be left for political parties to decide.
“For instance, if Manchester United are playing against Arsenal it is left for them to choose who makes up their team. What they are interested in is winning; you can’t tell them the mode of selection”, he said.
He advised the national assembly to expunge that section of direct or indirect primaries for the president to give assent to the bill.
Asked how he intended to lift 50,000 Nigerians out of poverty, the cleric said he had mapped out empowerment programme that will soon commence.
“I intended to buy tricycles to give to the transporters who cannot afford it. When l gives you, I will tell you to pay back the money so that we will give another person. It would be in a circular form.
He said aside the empowerment’s programme, he also has a running scholarship scheme.
“I am not getting younger because I will be 70 next year. To God be the glory, the scholarship programme I started years back is still running and I intend to do more because I am not thinking of building a house or buying a new car.
“I intend to achieve this empowerment dream with practical human solution-oriented ideas that can bring change to the lives of Nigerians through supports from my friends,” he added.
He added that as a reverend father, he only has sisters and brothers as immediate family members and that his feeding, shelter and clothing are provided by the church.
He added that any money he got from friends and individuals was meant for charity and empowerment.
