The presidency has described the comment made by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, as ungodly.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja , the presidency accused Bishop Kukah of playing partisan politics by dragging the President into it.
Recall that Bishop Kukah in his Easter message had described Nigeria as a “massive killing field, as both government and the governed look on helplessly.”
Reacting to the recent reported cases of violences, killings, among others criminal activities across the country, Bishop Kukah stated that President Buhari, he has not been proactive in addressing the current predicament rocking the nation.
His message reads, “taunted by Boko Haram, ravaged by bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and other merchants of death across the nation, there is collective fear as to whether Nigeria’s glory is about to depart! Retired military and intelligence officers lament over what has become of their glorious profession as they watch the humiliation of our military personnel. Traumatised citizens are tortured daily by bandits.
“A thick and suffocating cloud of desperation, despondency, desolation, gloom, and misery hangs in the hot air. We have no message and have no idea how long this will last. Our people seek solace and protection, but frustration and darkness threaten to drown them. Is their government on AWOL? The very survival of the nation is at stake.
“The nation is pulling apart. Widespread serious insecurity for long unaddressed has left the sad and dangerous impressions that those who have assumed the duty and authority to secure the nation are either unable, or worse, unwilling to take up the responsibilities to their office. Patience is running out. Sadly, all of these warnings are still falling on deaf ears.
Reacting, the Presidency in the statement said, “All citizens have their individual ideologies, even their own versions of truth.
Going further, the presidency urged the Catholic Bishop that ideology should not stand in the way of facts and fairness.
The statement reads, “ if you profess to be a man of God, as Father Mathew Hassan Kukah does, ideology should not stand in the way of facts and fairness.
“Father Kukah has said some things that are inexplicable in his Easter massage.
“But, in saying that the Boko Haram terrorism is worse than it was in 2015, he did not speak like a man of God. Kukah should go to Borno or Adamawa to ask the citizens there the difference between 2014 and 2021.
“Furthermore, the Hijab issue in Kwara State on which he dwelt is a state matter which the courts of the land have adjudicated.
“They are matters that have appeared in several states as far back as the Obasanjo administration. In all of that, when and where did the name of President Buhari feature?
“He is playing partisan politics by dragging the President into it.
“An administration that has created a whole Ministry, for the first time in the country’s history, appropriating enormous resources to it, to deal with issues of internally displaced persons cannot, in all rightfulness be accused of not caring for them.
“Some of the comments are no more than a sample of the unrestrained rhetoric Fr. Kukah trades in, which he often does in the guise of a homily.
“We urge well-meaning citizens to continue to support the ongoing efforts by the administration to secure the country and move it forward.”
