Presidency to Bishop Kukah, too much talk, join politics

Post created on 12:01 pm

On Monday, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, took a swipe at the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, for his continuous criticism of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and his regime.

Garba Shehu made this known in a statement asking Kukah to put away his clerical job and consider joining politics and see how far he can go.

While reacting to Kukah’s Easter sermon on Sunday Shehu tagged it ‘Kukah’s virus of hate’, where the Bishop knocked Buhari’s regime over security challenges, corruption, and disunity in the country.

Quoting different biblical passages, the presidential spokesman faulted the bishop, saying “from his pulpit, he devoted his Easter message not to Christ’s death and rebirth so Man might be saved – but to damning the government in the most un-Christian terms.”

Easter should be a time of renewing hope and not a time for religious leaders to play politics or vice.

While Shehu was accusing Kukah of neglecting Bible’s teachings, he further stated  “Whether expressing his political views is a good use or abuse of religious office is for others to decide. But the people of Nigeria have spoken that they support this government.

“We respectfully ask Bishop Kukah to leave government to the voters and the politicians they elect, while he concentrates on his job, as it is expressed in James 1:27: ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.’