“FATHER KUKAH HAS GREATLY OFFENDED MANY WITH HIS CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.”

The statement quoted above was part of the message issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Hon. Garba Shehu over the reaction of a group in Sokoto regarding the Christmas sermon of the Catholic bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Credit must be given to the government for issuing a strong caution to those who threatened the internationally acclaimed bishop. The intervention of government in this matter was not only timely but proactive, considering the potential for violence which the reckless threat carried.

Another positive thing in what Hon. Garba Shehu said in his statement was the fact that freedom of speech is a constitutional right of all Nigerians and Bishop Kukah acted within his right by exercising it as a Nigerian. Kudos to the government for upholding the constitution on this matter.

Where I was disturbed with Garba Shehu’s statement was his deliberate choice to address bishop Kukah as father Kukah. It was “deliberate” because I refuse to believe that a whole Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president does not know that former father Kukah is now a Bishop. Not that the learned gentle bishop Kukah I know has time for titles or prefixes, these mean nothing to a highly political thinker and intellectual of Bishop Kukah’s caliber, but I am interrogating the intention of the Senior Special assistant to the president for his deliberate choice of language in addressing Bishop Kukah inappropriately because it does not only smark mischief but portrays Garba Shehu as grossly uninformed thereby unfit for the office he currently occupies in Aso Rock.

Fact is, the name Hon. Garba Shehu will disappear faster than lightning by 2023, but the name “Kukah” will endure forever in the minds of Nigerians. Whatever prefix you decide to attach to the name “Kukah” doesn’t add or reduce anything from its integrity and the socio-political and religious weight it carries. Bishop Kukah was not appointed an adviser to the Pope for no reason.

So, let me give the Senior Special assistant to the president a small taste of his own medicine by saying to Hon. Garba Shehu using his own words, you greatly angered many Catholics (Christians in general) by your controversial address of Bishop Kukah as father Kukah.

Secondly, the senior adviser to the president in his message claimed that “father Kukah greatly offended many with his controversial remarks against the government...” This claim could’ve been true had Hon. Garba Shehu also acknowledged the many people in millions who were happy with Bishop Kukah’s criticism of government with regard to nepotism. If a national census were to be taken of those who were happy with Bishop Kukah’s criticism of this government on nepotism against those who were angered by it, the result will shock Hon. Garba Shehu to realization of how much ordinary Nigerians are offended in so many areas by this government.

But the crux of the matter that bishop Kukah and so many prominent Nigerians have publicly criticized this government about is NEPOTISM, simply defined as “the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.” In a federation of multi-ethnic and religious groups, you cannot make certain positions in government exclusive preserve of one particular ethnicity, religion and region, and still expect everyone from other ethnicities, religion and regions to accept such behavior and clap for you.

It’s not about posting a baseless chat to show which region has what percentage of political appointments. That is diversionary at best, you are only trying to run away from the truth which steers at you in the face. No article of Nigeria’s constitution gives the president the right to appoint one ethnic/religious group to head all top positions that matter in government. That is an insult to other ethnic/religious groups. The president has insulted other ethnic groups in Nigeria by his nepotism, and they have the right to feel insulted and voice it out.

Fact is, there are certain top positions in government that I cannot remember the last Christian from any region that occupied them, or if a Christian from any region has ever occupied them at all. That is the crux of the matter. Based on the nepotistic policy of this government, all political appointees at the federal level are ultimately answerable to one particular ethnic/religious/regional group directly or indirectly. Must one be a Muslim from the north to be appointed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, custom boss, etc., I don’t want to continue with the list because it’s shameful and disrespectful. The government of the day has carried nepotism to its capstone in the history of our nation. It’s an undeniable fact, which even some Muslims from the north have publicly confessed to it. That is the crux of the matter. You don’t run a heterogeneous society like that. Simple!

Lessons to learn:

1. For the government, the lesson at least is that when you appoint one ethic/religious group to head all top positions that matter in a federal government, other ethnic/religious groups who must be answerable to those in-charge will not be happy. This unhappiness, has not been managed well by the government of the day which has turned deaf ears to the clarion call of well meaning Nigerians for inclusion, respecting at least the federal character provision in the constitution. To continue on this recalcitrant path and expect everyone to accept this unprecedented anomaly as normal, is to say that we are now living in a full blown fascist system. Democracy is government of the people, not one section of the people.
2. For Nigerians, anybody that is capable of having his/her voice heard and has something meaningful and constructive to say that will promote unity, progress and development of our country should say it. No one should be cowed into silence in a democracy.
3. For bishop Kukah, the lesson is what you know already, and I want to borrow the words of a young priest Rev. Fr. Jonah Kundi to say this, namely that “you should not expect an average human being to clap for you when you tell him the truth, worst a politician, because if you tell him the truth you are against him.” My Lord, you are the John the Baptist of our time, a lone voice crying in the wilderness calling for a new social order. Please do not look back, do not relent or doubt the support of Nigerians. We are fully behind you. To this end, I pray that God who, in order to free the world from dominion of darkness, revealed the Truth (John 14:6) to the world, continue to use you as an instrument of truth, gadfly of our collective consciousness and courageous moral voice of the oppressed, for the emancipation and development of our God-given country. Amen!

- Fr. Kyom (DJK).

Who takes Garbage Shehu serious to begin with. a man who shamelessly told the bewildered world that beheaded farmers was killed because they didn't get clearance from the military hence the reason why they were killed. imagine such a heartless comment from someone who claims to be a grand father

....All those who wish you and the country well must mince no words in warning you that Nigeria has become dangerously polarized and risk sliding into crisis on account of your administration’s lopsided appointments which continues to give undue preference to some sections of the country over others....

Your appointments will destroy Nigeria, Col Umar writes Buhari https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/your-appointments-will-destroy-nigeria-col-umar-writes-buhari/amp/
Umar Dangiwa was not a threat when he cautioned Mr president but Bishop Matthew Kukah is one.Just as his matchete & AK-47 wielding brother are not terrorists but harmless people demanding for self assertion are.It is just a function of time.

"Our history is replete with numerous & uncontrollable instances of callous and insensitive dominating repressive intrigues by those who think it is their birthright to dominate till eternity the political and economic privileges of this great country to the exclusion of the people of the Middle Belt & the south"

It is our unflinching belief that this quest for domination, oppression and marginalization is against the wish of God and therefore, must be resisted with vehemence. Anything that has a beginning must have an end....

-Maj.Gideon Gwarza Orkar

Buhari’s undoing is his wonted predilection for hierarchising ethnicity, religion and loyalty above competence. Since 1999, no president has obtrusively shown a more nepotistic aspect than Buhari.

It is unarguable that the president arrays the most competence-challenged cabinet ever in the chronicle of governance in Nigeria. Yes,a recession cabinet.

Buhari is the only Nigerian president that has presided over the country under multiple recessions. As it was in 1984 under General Buhari, so it is in 2016 and 2020 under President Buhari.

https://www.thecable.ng/buharis-legacy-of-recessions

Didnt read all, bt I m sure it made sense, this Northern Elites Are been clever by half, hw can u not criticise Buhari