Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and founder of Kukah Centre Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said that hell support any government which can take Nigeria far away from where former President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the country to.
Kukah stated this on a television programme yesterday, while speaking on the state of the nation with special reference to the conference taking place in Abuja yesterday, organised by Kukah Centre and titled: Promoting National Integration and Unity
He said, If you ask me if I believe that this government can achieve what it wants to achieve, my answer is yes. But people should take up the responsibility to be vigilant, keep the government on its feet. I think you can also see that some of the things that we have agitated for, the government has shown a bit of responsibility.
For me, any government that is prepared to take us a little bit away from where former President Buhari left us, Ill be more than happy to support that process. However, I wont issue any Government a blank cheque.
Speaking about the significance of the conference, he said, Were not going to have a one off event. Weve established a broad based programme of interaction. A lot of people are on our mailing list, institutions, individuals, etcetera. What were going to do on the issue of security, weve tried our best to engage the government and to provide alternatives in terms of how we see things. Every meeting that we have, it is important to feed the media and the Civil Society Organisations, the faith based communities etcetera. Its the advantage that we have over and above other events.
On the fact that most of the things that Buhari didnt do right are still on ground and things havent improved, he said, No wound heals in a day. The map-reading in business is not what the President does. My main concern is that contrary to the whole conversation, Nigerians think that one day theyll find one messiah who will come out. Ill say that we cant have a messiah in Nigeria; because if you have a messiah, the Christians will recognise him, the Moslems wont recognise him. If some sections of Islam are expecting a messiah, when he appears the Christians wont recognise him. Were not looking for a messiah; and there are no messiahs anywhere.
?”Im not an opposition politician but Im also opposed to things that I see the government is not doing right. So, if you talk about healing, quite a lot is taking place. Im not talking about relations with the Government. I think that despite all the challenges and the difficulties, we have a lot of bright spots here and there. Theres evidence that were in the right direction. Where the Government is not doing well, its important that we know how to make noise; but I dont think we can assume that nothing is happening, and that nothing is changing. A lot of things are changing”.
He gave an example of how about four passengers who were on business class vacated their seats for him, when he actually had an economy class ticket on an Abuja-bound flight from Sokoto.
He noted that the efforts some people are making are being appreciated.
Unlike you, one of the things that I market best as a priest is hope; and that is where we differ. So, no matter how difficult things may be, I have a reason to make people know that tomorrow will be better, Kukah added.
