In his Easter message, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, called on Nigeria’s president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to prioritize fixing Nigeria’s challenges instead of resorting to “cheap talk.” According to Kukah, Nigeria’s most urgent task is not infrastructure, but the psychological journey of making Nigerians feel whole again. He urged Tinubu to create a large tent of opportunity and hope for everyone, cut off the chains of ethnicity and religious bigotry, and help Nigeria recover from the feeling of collective rape by those who imported the men of darkness that destroyed our country.
Kukah also lamented that social media has become the conveyor belt for the diffusion and distribution of hate. He urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to decide issues arising from the 2023 general elections with wisdom, conscience, and strength of character, reminding them that judges have no obligation to please anyone.
The Catholic Bishop commended President Buhari for acknowledging that Kukah’s engagement with him over the years was not done out of malice but for the good of the country. Kukah prayed that God guides Buhari in retirement as Nigeria embarks on the challenge of reclaiming the country they knew before he came.
To the youths, Kukah saluted their energy and courage and urged them to learn the rules of good sportsmanship, know their roles, and fight for what matters. He reminded them that their actions today will shape tomorrow and prayed that God gives Nigeria the spirit of forgiveness and heals the nation from infirmities and blindness that makes them forget they are brothers and sisters, children of one father.
Kukah’s message emphasizes the urgent need for Nigeria to fix its challenges, cut off the chains of ethnicity and religious bigotry, and create a large tent of opportunity and hope for everyone. His message also reminds Nigeria’s leaders and citizens of the importance of unity, forgiveness, and good sportsmanship.