Kukah: Buhari has First Class in Nepotism – ECWA to MURIC, others

 

BY NICHOLAS ABE

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Echoes of the 2020 Christmas Day message by Reverend Matthew Kukah continue to reverberate across the nation, as more individuals and groups have continued to align with the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese.

Kukah had in his Christmas homily drove home the issue of overwhelming insecurity that has enveloped the nation, especially Northern Nigeria, and government’s apparent inability to find solutions to the wanton shedding of blood through Boko Haram terrorists’ killings, destructions, abductions, kidnappings for ransom and armed banditry.

More so, the revered Catholic cleric pointedly accused President Muhammadu Buhari of sacrificing the dreams of Nigerians on the altar of nepotism by allegedly pursuing northern hegemony at the expense of greater national cohesion.

Following on the path of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Southern Nigeria and Middle-Belt Forum and other notable individuals and groups, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Tuesday said Bishop Kukah had not said anything new and warned against any attempt to harm him.

According to the General Secretary of ECWA, Rev. Yunusa Sabo Nmadu Jnr, nepotism under President Buhari is top-notch.

He said: “As a matter of fact, Nepotism under General Buhari administration is top-notch. 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 General Buhari is now a centre of bloodshed. Killings, banditry, kidnappings and all forms of insecurities are now order of the day. The President should face the job for which he swore to. Mr. President, fulfil your campaign promises, secure the country and make life better for all of us.

“The earlier this administration takes steps to addressing these genuine concerns and stop living in denial, the better for them and the country.

“This country belongs to all of us and no section of this country should be made superior than the other. We are bonafide citizens with equal rights. Enough of these shenanigans. We are watching.”

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Rev. Nmadu said he had read so many reactions to Bishop Kukah’s Christmas message, with some of them coming from Muslim and Northern groups.

He observed that some of those who were opposed to the Catholic Bishop’s view even called for his arrest.

“Arrest a man that spoke the minds of millions of Nigerians? They must be joking.

“There is nothing new about what Bishop Kukah said. The Bishop has spoken our minds, and we will resist any attempt by any group or agency of government to harm him. Enough of this intimidation.

“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,” Nmadu said.

The Federal Government had through a statement issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described Kukah’s message as an attempt to stoke the embers of hatred, sectarian strife and national disunity.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), towing the same path, termed it as “reckless, inflammatory and unguarded.”

MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement, Monday, accused Bishop Kukah of referring to Islam as a violent religion and also described him as a first-class blackmailer.

“We are shocked to our marrows by the vitriolic attack launched by Kukah against Islam as a religion. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese referred to Islam as a violent religion. He also surreptitiously called for a coup against a democratically elected government of President Muhammadu Buhari whom he falsely accused of nepotism.

“This is a most irresponsible pronouncement and we will not allow it to go unchallenged. Kukah’s statement is reckless, inflammatory and unguarded. It is the most egregious, luciferous, serpentine and diabolical statement of the year 2020. Kukah is ululating from the wrong side of the pulpit.

“Kukah is in the habit of demonizing and de-marketing any president who happens to be a Muslim. In particular, we are most disappointed that such a heavily prejudiced and explosive statement is coming from the secretary of Nigeria’s Peace Committee. His behaviour is consistently inconsistent with his status,” Akintola alleged.