Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and former vice president Atiku Abubakar have felicitated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah as he turns 70 on August 31, 2022.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, in Abuja, on Tuesday, described the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese as a formidable advocate for good governance.
Abubakar celebrated Kukah at 70, saying his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy were immeasurable and unquantifiable.
Describing him as a remarkable public intellectual, he said that Kukah, as a man of God, had never hesitated to speak out on Nigeria’s ills.
Abubakar said that Kukah criticised leaders when they derailed from the responsibility of providing good governance and deepening the democracy.
“Bishop Kukah is widely misunderstood because he speaks truth to power; a task that often attracts adversaries in our kind of society.”
He said that “religious leaders are the moral compass and conscience of the people, and therefore, they have the obligation to tell leaders the truth when they are going wrong.”
“Kukah is a great asset to Nigeria and humanity because of his tireless commitment to peace, unity and peaceful coexistence in the country and the passion he attaches to these efforts is amazing.
“Not once did I ever hear Kukah preach hate or bigotry in his sermons. All his sermons are focused on issues that can make Nigeria better. His passion for our unity and justice for all is one of his greatest virtues.”
The former Vice President described Kukah as a “giant fountain of inspiration.”
He said that it was impossible to interact with the cleric without tapping from his depth of knowledge, wisdom and incredible experience about life.
Abubakar wished Kukah God’s continued blessing in good health and many more years of service to the country and humanity.
Buhari congratulates Father Kukah at 70
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah, as he turns 70, Aug. 31.
In a congratulatory message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Tuesday in Abuja, Buhari joined the Catholic Church, friends and associates in celebrating with the priest on the milestone.
The president noted the contributions of the priest, teacher, scholar and writer to national discourse. He prayed that the almighty God would grant Kukah longer life, good health and strength.
2023: Kukah warns against politics of religion
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has warned politicians against using religion to manipulate politics in the country.
He added that such move comes with a grave consequence just has it happened in Germany during the reign of Adolf Hitler.
Kukah spoke in Abuja yesterday during the presentation of his new book, “Broken Truth,” which was part of activities lined up for his 70th birthday.
He said, “If you look at history, there is a consequence for using religion to manipulate politics. We just need to look at Germany. The consequences are there to see in Hitler.
“The problem is that the Nigerian political elites lack the mental capacity to understand the consequences of the fire they are stoking because there is nothing to suggest that the average person who is living in the north, who is Fulani, who is a Muslim, or who is Hausa, can say that they are proud of the Nigerian political system, beyond a very tiny percentage.
“So, if you decide that you want to give privilege to a religion or an ethnic group, what will happen is that others automatically become outsiders.”
He also explained that agitations are ongoing in the country because the citizens are more intelligent than those steering the affairs of the country.
Kukah added, “The agitation that persists in Nigeria is largely borne out of the fact that those who govern us are not aware of how much mental progress ordinary people have made.
“Those who are being governed are more intelligent and endowed. And it will not have been a bad thing if people who don’t know seek knowledge.”
