The Presidency has risen in defense of the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, after accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism.
Recall that Rev. Kukah, while delivering his Christmas message in Sokoto, had alleged that President Buhari’s acts of nepotism could have led to a coup if he was a non-northern Muslim, triggering many pro-government groups to tag the statement as a felony against the Nigeria State.
Condemning Kukah, a Sokoto-based Islamic group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, had described the cleric’s comments as anti-Islamic, demanding an unreserved apology from the cleric or he should leave the State.
However, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday, described the group’s call as unconstitutional.
According to Shehu, “Every citizen has the right to, among others, freedom of speech and expression, the right to own property and reside in any part of the country, and the right to move freely without any inhibitions”.
He added, “The reported ultimatum by a group based in Sokoto, “Muslim Solidarity Forum,” calling on the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah to tender an unreserved apology to the entire Muslim Ummah over his recent “malicious comments” against Islam, or quietly and quickly leave the State, is wrong because it is not in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Groups such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum must be seen to share and uphold the country’s multi-religious principles. And individuals like Father Kukah must respect the feelings of his fellow Nigerians in his private and public utterances.”
