From Victor Osula Abuja
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the country’s suffering, citing widespread insecurity and hunger among Nigerians.
Likening Nigeria’s predicament to Christ’s crucifixion in his Easter address, Bishop Kukah passionately urged the President to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, whom he described as being on a “cross of evil.”
He said Nigeria is plagued by a culture of brutality and savagery that has never before been witnessed in its history, placing the country outside the bounds of human civilisation.
“Across the entire country, every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions. A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south. It is impossible to find a home, a family, or a community that has not been caught in the cusp of this savagery.”
Kukah emphasised that while President Tinubu did not create these problems, the burden of leadership requires urgent action.
“Mr President, we all admit that you neither erected this cross nor effected our collective crucifixion. Notwithstanding, Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long.”
He lamented a growing culture of cynicism and self-doubt regarding Nigeria’s capacity to achieve peace, adding that many citizens now feel hopeless.
The Bishop, however, called on Christians to renew their faith, citing biblical references that encourage perseverance through suffering and confidence in God’s promises.
Reflecting on the significance of Easter, Kukah noted that for Christians, it marks Christ’s triumph over death, an event that was preceded by the crucifixion of innocence.
“I am therefore using the metaphor of the cross to draw attention to the sufferings and afflictions that have befallen our country in recent years.”
He questioned the capacity and will of security agencies, suggesting that Nigerians are left to wonder whether their suffering is the result of incompetence or a sinister plot.
“We are in a dilemma now, and the question is simple: is the persistence of insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine?”
“In other words, are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god? Mr. President, step up, get to the finishing line, and bring us down from this cross of shame.”
