Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, who has been in the news lately for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday said that the wounds of Nigeria’s civil war are yet to heal.
Kukah made the declaration a virtual meeting organized by Dele Momodu of the Ovation Magazine and Mazi Ezeoke.
He spoke on the theme, ‘The Second never again conference: 51 years after Nigerian-Biafran Civil war,’ and Nigerians should compile a history of the country. According to him, knowing the history will calm/qualm the taste for violence.
Nigeria’s civil war of 1967 -70 saw the federal troops pitted against the former Eastern region, comprising the current South East and parts of Niger Delta. The three-year led to the death of an estimated three million Ibos in a cessation led by former Lt.-Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, who proclaimed the area as the Republic of Biafra.
Reviewing the affairs of t country, Kukah declared there is enough blame to go round, insisting that everyone should be blamed for the current situation of the country.
“If we are saying NEVER AGAIN, we must identify some fundamental issues. We must have our history written down or acted as a movie. We must understand the role of religion in Nigeria. The issue of consequentiality should also be of great essence. There should be consequences for good and bad behavior,” he declared.
Kukah spoke two days after he was criticized by the Moslem group, Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF), which also asked him to apologise for his comments or quietly quit Sokoto State.
The Forum spoke through its chairman, Prof. Isah Maishanu.
On Tuesday, the group asked Bishop Kukah to apologise to the Muslim Ummah for alleged “malicious comments” against Islam or quietly leave the state.
His travails began after he delivered a Christmas Day message last month, in which he criticised the Buhari administration for what he described as its “nepotism”.
Kukah had in his Christmas message accused the Buhari administration of not living up to the expectations of Nigerians due to the various economic and security challenges affecting the nation.
He alleged that Buhari was “institutionalising northern hegemony against national interests,”
“This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.
“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension…
“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 Moslem groups, including the MSF and Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, have accused him of inciting Nigerians to overthrow the government and also disrespecting Islam.
The threat to Kukah has attracted responses from various groups, individuals and even the Presidency.
On Wednesday, the Presidency faulted the quit order given him, delaring it was contrary to the country’s Constitution. It however cautioned him to take into consideration the feelings of other people while making his comments.
“The reported ultimatum by a group based in Sokoto, ‘Muslim Solidarity Forum’, calling on Bishop Kukah to tender an unreserved apology to the entire Muslim Ummah over his recent ‘malicious comments’ against Islam, or quietly and quickly leave the state, is wrong because it is not in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the presidency said in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu,.
“Under our Constitution, every citizen has the right to, among others, freedom of speech and expression, the right to own property and reside in any part of the country, and the right to move freely without any inhibitions.
“Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity. The right for all religions to co-exist is enshrined in this country’s Constitution.
“The duty of the government, more so, this democratic government, is to ensure that the Constitution is respected. But all must respect the rights and sensitivities of their fellow Nigerians.”
The Presidency said “Father Kukah has greatly offended many with his controversial remarks against the government and the person of the President, with some even accusing him of voicing anti-Islamic rhetoric.
“On matters such as these, responsible leadership in any society must exercise restraint.
“Knee-jerk reactions will not only cause the fraying of enduring relationships, but also the evisceration of peaceful communities such as Sokoto, the headquarters of the Muslim community, as a beacon of pluralism and tolerance.
“The Sultanate has historically had good relations with followers of all faiths. That is why Father Kukah was received on his arrival in Sokoto with friendship and tolerance.
“Under our laws, groups or factions must not give quit notices, neither should they unilaterally sanction any perceived breaches. Where they occur, it is the courts of law that should adjudicate. Unilateral action is not the way to go.
“Groups such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum must be seen to share and uphold the country’s multi-religious principles. And individuals like Father Kukah must respect the feelings of his fellow Nigerians in their private and public utterances,” the presidency said.
Also speaking on the matter, Chief Frank Kokori, a labour and pro-democracy activist, condemned the attack on Kukah by Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar-led Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI).
In Warri, Kokori, an All Progressives Congress(APC) chief, accused the JNI Secretary-General of trying to trigger a religious war.
He said he had read Kukah’s message and found no portion where he ridiculed Islam or Muslims.
