Those vilifying the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Archdiocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah for speaking truth to power, have been warned to desist from actions that could affect the peace of the country.
The coalition of Nigerian Muslim Professionals, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, argued that Nigeria will be a great country if there are two or three persons like Kukah.
The group’s National Coordinator, Prof. Mohammed Inuwa, noted that Buhari may have meant well for the country but faulted the President in some actions taken by his administration which it said have failed to promote unity.
The coalition said instead of vilifying the cleric, it would be to the President’s best interests to take Bishop’s message as a wake-up call, and adjust in the interest of the country and its citizens.
It noted that promoting the interest of one region against others is not what a good leader is known for, adding that in as much it loves the president, the coalition will want him to leave a legacy of a united Nigeria.
The Muslim coalition condemned any form of attacks on Kukah over his Christmas Day message, in which he bemoaned the state of the nation, warning that unless leaders sit up, Nigeria is heading towards a failed state.
Kukah had also accused President Buhari of piloting Nigeria into darkness in the message titled: “A Nation in Search of Vindication.”
He had emphasised the worsening state of security in the country and berated the Federal government of glaringly abandoning the nation’s extant Federal character principles and rather promoting nepotism.
Indeed Kuka’s observation has been drawing criticisms from the President’s friends, political associates and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the coalition commended Kukah for what it described as “his boldness to speak truth to power”, faulting those vilifying him.
The Nigerian Muslim Professionals took a swipe at those trolling the Bishop, saying they are doing it for their pecuniary gains and not the interest of the country.
It warned against twisting the message to mean that the Bishop endorses coup, saying contrary to those promoting that insinuation, the cleric is too learned to support such ignoble path to installing leadership.
It continued that Nigerians with a conscience would not fall to the antics of those twisting the Bishop’s message for selfish reasons.
The group said having followed Bishop Kukah’s activities and preaching since the days of the military, it is convinced that not too many Nigerians take the interest of the country at heart like Bishop Kukah.
“Even during the military era when people dreaded the powers that be at the time, Bishop Kukah, who was then a Catholic priest, spoke truth to those at the helm of affairs without fear or favour. He has shown through his actions all the years that he is a true son of Nigeria in particular and Africa in general,” the group stated.
“We should support him for being bold enough to come out to speak what many Nigerians know is the truth but afraid to speak out for fear of the leadership.
“While we must admit that President Muhammad Buhari means well for the nation, we must say that most people in his government are grossly incompetent and don’t deserve to stay around power even in an uncivilized space,” the group stated.
The group said it would not shy away from the truth even though most of the president’s actions drawing criticisms are perceived to be in favour of the northern region.
It flayed the glaring marginalisation of the Igbos in every facet of national life, saying the development is not promoting national cohesion which nationalists that laid down their lives for the country’s independence wanted.
“There’s nothing wrong with Bishop Kukah’s statement in the actual sense. Some regions particularly the South East has been marginalized in successive governments, and the administration of President Muhammad Buhari came and amplified it with the worst,” it added.
It described those attacking Kukah as faceless individuals who were being promoted by selfish people in leadership to silence the truth.
“We strongly condemn the wrong approach taken to respond to a message by a patriotic Nigerian by these incompetent people working to derail the president’s agenda.
“It is completely wrong to be attacking Bishop Kukah by some faceless sponsored groups. Bishop Kukah did not in any way call for a coup, he is too learned to do that.
“We stand completely with Bishop Kukah, this government must be fair to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion,” it said.