“Do not be cynical, God is not done with us”: Nigerian Bishop in Christmas Message

He urges Nigerians to “choose leaders who, in your view, will love us, will care for us, will cry with us, will laugh with us. Look ahead and do not look back.”

“Although the responses to my Messages suggest that, generally, Nigerians listen to our voices in the wilderness. However, the deliberate culture of pauperization and destitution of our people continues,” Bishop Kukah says.

The Nigerian Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in September 2011 as Bishop of Sokoto Diocese emphasizes the need for “a change of strategy so that we can turn a new page.”

“We need a new strategy to confront those who sit on the throne of power in arrogance and are determined to reduce our country to a jungle. We need a new strategy that separates men and women of honor from those who have chosen dishonor,” the vocal Catholic Bishop says.

He continues, “We need a new strategy that provides a clearer moral guide for ordinary citizens who, based on the moral strength of culture and religion, are seeking to build a good society, even if with straws.”

“We need to stand up and stand firm. We need new mechanisms for saying no to the violence of governance,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop known for good governance advocacy says in his Christmas Message shared with ACI Africa. 

He notes that “a caste system has emerged in our country. It has consolidated its hold and blunted the cutting edge of all institutions. A majority of its children are swimming against the tide for survival with no support while the other caste smiles in the comfort of their life jackets.”

“Unable to diagnose the causes of the (demonization) and the ruination of their identities, Nigerians have come to a conclusion: something must be wrong with us as a people,” Bishop Kukah says.

He adds, “Almost every department and with all indicators, our nation has become a tale of two cities. We have wars between the rich and the poor, men and women, across generations, along party lines, social classes, religion, ethnicity and so on.”

“Fixing our country and getting it back requires courage, honesty, truth, humility, trust and firm commitment. Lies and blackmail are no substitute,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop who was appointed to the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in January 2021 says.

He appeals to all citizens of Africa’s most populous nation who he says have been given custody of public trust and commonwealth “to rise up to the duties for which they have been so handsomely rewarded.”

“Those holding elective office must appreciate that they have not been entrusted with the keys of our commonwealth just so they can turn it into their private money machines,” he adds.

Bishop Kukah says he finds it regrettable that President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving Nigerians “far more vulnerable than when you came, that the corruption we thought would be fought has become a leviathan and sadly, a consequence of a government marked by nepotism.”

Still, the Nigerian Catholic who has been lauded for delivering prophetic messages commends President Buhari for his efforts in the area of infrastructure, saying,  “There has been a measurable improvement in the landscape especially in the area of roads.”

“I commend you for the efforts and honesty of seeking to end malfeasance in the electoral processes and your courageous support for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,” he adds.

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The Local Ordinary of Sokoto Diocese urges political candidates in the February 2023 general elections to demonstrate they “grasp the length and breath of the problems that our country faces.”

“We have heard your promises, but we do know that promises before elections are sweet, but actions after elections are often bitter,” he says, and pleads with the political class “to co-operate and collaborate with institutions which are tasked with the responsibilities for these elections, INEC, the Security agencies, thee National Peace Committee, civil society organizations and the entire people of Nigeria.”

He adds, “We are already overwhelmed by violence and our future hangs in a balance. Do not further fan the embers of hatred and divisions. Seek to create a vision that can unite our country.”

Bishop Kukah further urges religious leaders to “to see visible fruits of respect and we must also try to show this in practical terms.”

On the concerns about the relationship between Christians and Muslims, the Catholic Bishop says, “The situation in Nigeria remains tied to political manipulation of the levers of power and favors by the political elite.”

“We leaders need to demonstrate our honesty openly to our people by finding common lines of joint action among ourselves,” he says, and adds, “Common projects such as exchange visits to our places of worship can inspire confidence.”

Nigerians “have a chance to renew our faith and hope,” the Catholic Church leader says in his December 24 message. 

He continues, “Let us seize it in the upcoming elections so that our nation can breathe again. Examine the leaders and assess their honesty. Do not be carried away by promises or even claims of past records. Even the best leader has to be engaged.”

Bishop Kukah goes on to urge Nigerians to participate “fully and deliver free and peaceful elections as a foundation for a new dawn for our country.” 

“The world is waiting for Nigeria. The unborn are waiting for a new country. Go, brothers and sisters, go, magnify the Lord. Be happy because God is with us,” Bishop Kukah says in his message shared with ACI Africa.