Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, in his recent Easter address criticized Nigerian leadership for having governed Nigeria like drunkards who are on their way home. The Bishop called upon the Federal Government to put in place a strong mechanism that is aimed at national restoration and healing.
“Our leaders have been on a spree rather than austerity. What we experience today as consequences is the yield of what we sowed before: over sixty years of scattered drunkards with garbled speeches and blurred visions groping towards redemption,” he said.
“This has produced national comatose making it motionless.
“Still, Easter forces us to reflect on neglected paths. It may be seen as a chance to ponder if this cauldron of pain can bring forth a new age. I believe that Nigeria will once again rise and shine; let’s hold onto that hope during this period and walk together.”
According to h, the nation needs to contain the current economic predicament and pervasive hunger among its citizens.
Kukah urged for sudden and decisive steps that would steer the country back to normalcy.
He added that these measures should include policies which can eradicate nepotism as an unethical practice through embracing inclusivity.
He said, “In order to promote loyalty and destroy the entrenched practices of feudalism and patronage, government must implement a transparent process of wide-ranging recruitment.
“To achieve the desired results on policy development, there is need for an integrated communication strategy.
“What is required now is clarity on responsibilities in achieving national objectives and specificity with regard to these objectives themselves, their timelines of implementation as well as who will be held accountable for their implementation,”
On top of this, Bishop Kukah has also criticized military culture norm in the civil society which according to him has become a hackneyed phrase.
He questioned if the military actions can continue to safeguard social interests while maintaining its own professionalism and integrity; given its omnipresence everywhere Martial Law. This confusion between cause and effect roots from Fatique Army General Lucky Irabor’s statement about his force’s too friendly a way of work with society that has practically lost any line between continuous insecurity impact reasons versus results.
Kukah emphasized that several funds are being wasted with minimal profits.
“The military should not have its proficiency watered down by the inclusion of unqualified and inexperience personnel,” Kukah warned.
He added that these practices were unsustainable and brought the military into ridicule and perceptions of surrender. He expressed confidence in the ability of the military to quickly crush criminal elements, provided there is a stop to blame game.
Bishop Kukah praised President Bola Tinubu for proposing that kidnapping and banditry be regarded as terrorist activities. “This evil must be fought with all our strength,” he said. “Provided it is defeated before a particular date after which these terrorists will be crushed.
He also urged President Tinubu to persist in the pursuit of ending corruption, reducing excessive governance costs and developing comprehensive strategies for food security, physical security and such other related diseases across the nation.
He contended that putting money into corrupt systems does not give people their dignity. Corruption is a causative agent of poverty thereby promoting social equality where everyone can get help without discrimination in times of crises.
“Give back our farmlands to us so that we can map out an all-inclusive agricultural blueprint and reclaim our nation’s respect and human dignity,” he said finally,” he added.
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