Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and Senator Sani Shehu have thrown their weight behind Mathew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, saying he never in his Christmas message made any expression suggesting an affront to Islam or a call for a coup.
Kukah, in his Christmas message, had accused President Muhammadu Buhari administration of nepotism, claiming that Buhari had sacrificed the dreams of Nigerians on the altar of nepotism and Northern hegemony.
But, the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, accused the clergyman of attempting to destroy the quest for national integration by instigating violence.
CNG said Kukah was using religion to cause disharmony and facilitate the further emasculation of Northern Nigerian Muslims.
However, the Christian body accused the Federal government and the President of Muslims Rights Concern, MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola of twisting Kukah’s message, stressing that it was injurious to the development of the country.
This is as Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, has called on youths in the North to fight bandits and leave Bishop Kukah alone.
Sani in a tweet wrote: “My Dear Northern Youths; leave the Kukah in Sokoto and fight the Bandits in your shokoto.”
CAN’s position was contained in a statement signed by its Vice-Chairman in-charge of 19 Northern State and Abuja, Rev. John John Hayab on Monday, describing it as misleading.
He called on the international community to counsel Akintola on the need to take the path of honour in matters of national importance.
The statement reads: “CAN 19 northern states and Abuja has read with great shock attempts to further divide the nation by the Presidency, the leadership of MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.
“Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed by the President of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola that Bishop Kukah had “referred to Islam as a violent religion” and “calls for a coup.”
“That such a statement comes from Prof Akintola is not only laughable but misleading and tissue of lies. Records show MURIC’s leadership is often careless with assertions and many times acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious one.
“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore, condemn in its entirety the misleading and inciting statements of MURIC and its likes calling on the international as well as the local community to particularly counsel Prof Akintola of MURIC to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of crisis.
“Reading through Bishop Kukah’s A Nation In Search of Vindication, CAN is unable to find any expression suggesting an affront to Islam or a call for a coup.
“Sadly, MURIC aims to incite citizens against one another along the lines of faith instead of denouncing the insecurity witnessed across the country which is the point Bishop Kukah’s message. From the east to the south, west and all over the north, travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged from their homes for ransom.
“Our memory is fresh with the gruesome killings of 76 farmers in Borno State in early December 2020 whose crime was simply being farmers irking for a source of livelihoods for their families. What was MURIC’s statement at the time of that national tragedy? How about the Kankara boys kidnap and the excruciating pains the kids, their parents and school were thrown in?
“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja did not read a statement from MURIC and their likes. Now, from the blues, as Bishop Kukah talked the truth to power, we read unscrupulous statements aimed at painting black a message that was clear and concise alerting the government of its failure on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.
“Given the current happenings in Nigeria with kidnapping, banditry, horrible atrocities committed against hapless citizens by members Boko Haram, Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to the awful condition that we are in as Bishop Kukah has rightly done. For those castigating the referred cleric, we would call them by name – they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from their primordial views.
“It is time for the Presidency, MURIC, and misinformed individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria under Buhari has strayed from the path and vision that the independence of this great country was fought for and won.
“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of inclusion for all sundry, defending the citizens from harm, bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and villages that we could attain greatness together.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has declared its support for the Christmas Day message of its Bishop overseeing the Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Kukah.
The Catholic Church took its position in a message sent to parishioners nationwide by the Director of Social Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Mike Umoh, titled: “Bishop Kukah Christmas message: A call in support of truth,” on Monday.
Umoh said: “Very dear brothers and sisters, men and women of good will irrespective of creed, status and tribe. We are quite aware of the 2020 Christmas Message by our revered Bishop Hassan Kukah and the enormous space it has enjoyed on social media and in public sphere.
“As expected, the agents of evil have gathered to attack the person of the Bishop and to discredit the simple obvious truth of the message. This is the stock in trade of evil people. However, they often succeed when good people: Christians, choose to do nothing.
“I am therefore calling our attention to this new development so that we can all rise in unison and stand for truth.
“The situation in Nigeria no longer allows anyone to sit on the fence, indifference is now a greater form of sin. Everyone must choose and stand up for what he/she believes in.
“The truth about our nation is also that there are only two parties now existing: the good and the evil, the oppressed and the oppressor, the suffering people and the benefiting government officers and their families. Please stop allowing anyone fool you with these cards: religion and tribe.
“I therefore post below the full text of Bishop Kukah’s message and two follow ups to it. You are required to please make positive contributions in support of truth on all platforms available to you. LET US SPEAK UP NOW.”
