The Presidency on Monday took a swipe at Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, for his constant criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government, suggesting that he join partisan politics and see how far he can go.
In a statement headed “Kukah’s virus of hate,” the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated.
Shehu was reacting to Kukah’s Easter sermon on Sunday, in which he chastised Buhari’s leadership for the country’s security difficulties, corruption, and divisiveness.
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.”
Shehu said Easter should be a time for rebirth and optimism, not “a time for religious leaders to play politics, or politicians to play religion,” while accusing Kukah of ignoring the Bible’s teachings.
He added, “Nigeria knows too well Bishop Kukah’s views of the government. He has made quite clear how much he dislikes them from the day they were elected.
“Whether expressing his political views is a good use or an abuse of religious office is for others to decide. But the people of Nigeria have spoken – twice: they support this government at the ballot box. They have not been swayed by hateful talk from any bully-pulpit.
“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.’
“Or else, he should put away his clerical garb, join partisan politics and see how far he can go.”
