From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
The Head, Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed Bishop Kukah of Sokoto Diocese, into the Pontifical Council for human rights, justice and development of the Roman Catholic Church.
In the press release on Tuesday, by the Director, Social Communications of Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Chris Omotosho described Kukah’s appointment as a positive development, stating that it would bring about a lot of developments and goodwill to the people of God, especially Roman Catholics of Nigerian extraction.
“By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the dicastery (Council) drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development” the statement reads.
The appointment signed on behalf of the Pope by His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson, the Prefect of the Council, adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Church.
Recall Kukah has endured many scathing criticisms following his Christmas homily as a group, Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF) asked him to apologise or leave Sokoto over claims that he denigrated Islam in the message, something Kukah has denied.
However, President Buhari in its reaction through its Spokesperson, Garba Sheu said, “under Nigeria’s 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,” in a bid to defend the cleric’s rights.
“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 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,” Mr Shehu said.
Soyinka who blamed the attack on Kukah said, “We need only remark that all religions are plagued by a lunatic fringe. In this nation we have learnt the painful way what such inbred loonies are capable of.”
“On a personal note,” he wrote, “I have studied the transcript as reported in the media and found nothing in it that denigrates Islam but then, I must confess, I am not among the most religion besotted inhabitants of the globe.
Bishop Matthew Kukah was born in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, then St. Joseph Minor Seminary,
Zaria , before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary Jos, Plateau State , where he studied Philosophy and Theology. Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976.
Kukah also received the Bachelor of Divinity at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976, followed by a master’s degree in Peace Studies, at the University of Bradford , United Kingdom in 1980.
Until now, Kukah served as a member of the Nigerian Investigation Commission of Human Rights Violations between 1999 and 2001.
He was secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (2005) and from he has been serving as the Chairman, Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation.
Additionally, between 2007 and 2009 he worked also in the committee for electoral reform set up by the Nigerian government.
