The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 states and Abuja has defended the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, over his Christmas in which he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism.
Kukah had in his message said “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.”
But the Vice-Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and Abuja Rev John Joseph Hayab said in a statement, that “CAN 19 northern states and Abuja has read with great shock attempts to further divide the nation by the Presidency, the leadership of MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.
“Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed by the President of MURIC, Prof Ishaq Akintola, that Bishop Kukah had referred to Islam as a violent religion and calls for a coup.”
It said Prof Akintola’s statement was not only laughable but misleading, with tissue of lies, but that records show MURIC’s leadership as often careless with assertions and many times acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious one.
It added that “CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore, condemned in its entirety the misleading and inciting statements of MURIC and its likes calling on the international, as well as the local community to particularly counsel Prof Akintola of MURIC to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of crisis.”
CAN also said “it is unable to find any expression suggesting an affront to Islam or a call for a coup,” adding that sadly, “MURIC aims to incite citizens against one another along the lines of faith instead of denouncing the insecurity witnessed across the country which is the point Bishop Kukah’s message.
“From the east to the south, west and all over the north, travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged from their homes for ransom.”
While listing the killing of 76 farmers in Borno State and the abductions of Kankara schoolboys as failure of government, CAN said Bishop Kukah only talked the truth to power, but “there are unscrupulous statements aimed at painting black a message that was clear and concise alerting the government of its failure on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.”
It said it was time for the “Presidency, MURIC, and misinformed individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria under Buhari had strayed from the path and vision that the independence of this great country was fought for and won.
“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of inclusion for all sundry, defending the citizens from harm, bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and villages that we could attain greatness together,” it said.
