Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has reacted to criticisms trailing his Christmas message saying he never called for a coup as it has been speculated.
The bishop in a news conference with some journalists at St. Bakhita Secretariat in Sokoto on Monday called on Nigerians to understand his message.
The man of God who betrayed his emotions noted the wide range of attacks from some section of Nigerians who failed to understand the weight of his message, which is centred on his love for the country.
“I am pained and very sad that my emergency critics never see that many innocent lives are being lost on a daily basis. The loss of lives in the last 10 years, even before the advent of this administration, calls for concern.
“The reactions are a reflection of every citizen that makes up Nigeria. It is sad that when you drop something in Nigeria, everybody goes back to their enclave and abandons the larger picture. I am someone who never takes offence to what people say about me.
“What I said was my opinion based on evidence and what has happened in Nigeria, and if you looked into the records, there is evidence that justifies that statement, and if anyone thinks I am wrong, they should come out with a superior position.
“It is unfair for a journalist or news medium to report that I called for a coup while expressing my personal view about Nigeria,” he noted.
To those calling on him to drop his priesthood cassock and join the political fray, he said he would join politics only during the time of late Aminu Kano.
“I have no plan and will never play partisan politics for any reason. Those who link my message to partisan politics are only playing to the gallery.
“Take, for instance, brilliant Nigerian youths making comments about Chelsea or Arsenal and have never been to England, does that make them players of such club sides?
“So, why will someone think that because Bishop Matthew Kukah is speaking therefore he is a politician? “People who make this argument are totally ignorant of elementary politics and ignorant of the role of a priest.
“The truth is that a lot of us have not seen a priest saying what I am saying. The truth of the matter is, we are all in politics, but party politics for me, no. I am not a member of any political party and I cannot be. If it comes to voting, I do my right.
“Whatever I said can please or displease anyone, but that is my own opinion and doesn’t stop others from saying their own opinion. If you think my motive is wrong, say yours.
“I have no problem with Muslims, Christians, or any other religion. But what I don’t like is when someone is using a religious issue to play politics, it is wrong.”
(Source: Nigerian Tribune)
