Victor EzejaCatholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah, has charged the incoming government in Nigeria to make genuine effort towards healing and reuniting the country for peaceful coexistence of the citizens.
The cleric, who is the Secretary of the National Peace Committee and Founder of the Kukah Centre, Abuja, was apparently referring to the current controversies taking ethnic dimension, caused by events during and after the just concluded 2023 general elections.
In his Easter message, Kukah said the most urgent task at the moment is not “infrastructure or the usual cheap talk about ‘dividends of democracy”, but to start a process of bringing the citizens together, restoring hope, building a sense of inclusion and halting the evils of ethnic and religious bigotry that is rising and gradually eating the fabrics of national cohesion.
He said: “To the Incoming President: I am hopeful that you will appreciate that the most urgent task facing our nation is not infrastructure or the usual cheap talk about dividends of Democracy. These are important but first, keep us alive because only the living can enjoy infrastructure.
“For now, the most urgent mission is to start a psychological journey of making Nigerians feel whole again, of creating a large tent of opportunity and hope for us all, of expanding the frontiers of our collective freedom, of cutting off the chains of ethnicity and religious bigotry, of helping us recover from the feeling of collective rape by those who imported the men of darkness that destroyed our country, of recovering our country and placing us on the path to our greatness, of exorcising the ghost of nepotism and religious bigotry.”
Commenting on the conduct of the 2023 general elections, Kukah said Nigerians had high hopes and expectations of a process that would enable them choose who they trust as their leaders but the usual glitches and electoral irregularities struck once again, leaving trails of controversies, injuries and deaths of a good number of people who became victims of the exercise.
He blaimed those in the corridors of power and status of influence, who wanted the electoral outcome in their own selfish terms, for being responsible for the raging crises bedeviling the country and not the basic ethnic and religious differences.
“In resolving our problems, the easy part is to seek out the scapegoats. We have done so by exploiting our differences and turning them into weapons of war. Stereotypes are cheap commodities for blackmail especially in states weakened by a corrupt political class. Those beating the empty drums of hate are leading their followers to places where the streets have no names. They have lynched and murdered their imaginary enemies.
“The evil men on the streets are not the disease afflicting our nation. They are merely symptoms. The real diseases are those of us, men and women, sitting on the thrones of influence and power, those who adopt silence as a tactical weapon of choice, those who look the other way and who use silence as an excuse to sit on the fence of deceit. Like Pilate, they rise on the throne, wash their hands and return to the shadows, afraid to speak justice, and turn a blind eye to the truth (Mt. 27: 24). Those of us who take this position have the blood of the victims on our hands and are complicit.
“Sadly, our current crisis should be only a paragraph in the book of our nation’s trials, trauma and search for healing,” he said.
Continuing, Kukah noted, “Every election brings more frustration and anger and the victims all turn on themselves. The circles have gone on and on. Little wonder, fewer and fewer citizens want to risk their lives for what promises them only blood, tears, injury and death.
“While citizens seek outlets to express their grievances, they often find that the doors of opportunity to express their dreams are blocked.
“Misuse of power by the political class creates the conditions for violence. Citizens struggle to use their votes to choose those they can trust but the violent insist on taking power by the means they know best.
“It is therefore a mistake to think that violence occurs because Nigerians do not love themselves due to differences of ethnicity or religion. No, violence occurs because the politicians do not love and respect us. We need more respect. Our politics is therefore a clash between right and wrong, justice and injustice, love and pain. Violence is often the last gasp of victims who can’t breathe.”
While acknowledging that the citizens are angry about the infractions and want justice, which they have right to, he, however, appealed that it should be properly channeled, adding that peace making is made on the foundation of justice and all must commit to it.
He admonished that with the state of things, the citizens should not be discouraged, but hold unto the struggle for justice with the goal of actualising their dreams of having a united and progressive country.
He said the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is celebrated in the Easter Season signifies that despite the seeming hopelessness, God’s plans cannot be frustrated.
“Our dream is merely in suspense, a punctuation mark in the book of our unfinished greatness. Let us see this as a detour, a diversion. We still have our roadmap in our hands. It is time to return to the highway so as to choose a road less travelled, a road of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and hope.
“The ugliness of yesterday must not define us. We must finish this journey together. We shall neither relent, slow down nor give up.
“The resurrection is a promise that despite the seeming hopelessness, God’s plans cannot be frustrated. Those who position themselves at night with stones to guard the entrance of the tomb will find themselves confounded at dawn by an empty tomb.
“A new Nigeria will emerge from the tombs of our seeming helplessness,” he stressed.
As the elections are over and aggrieved candidates have gone to court to seek redress, the Sokoto Diocese Bishop appealed to members of the judiciary to remember that the fate of the nation’s democracy now lies in their interpretations of the spirit of laws in dispensing justice.
He reminded them that Nigerians are gradually losing hope in the justice system because of past antecedents and that it now lies in their hands to restore the confidence and trust.
“To the Honourable Justices of the Bench: you face difficult challenges ahead and you are mortals. The future of our country hangs on your deliberations. I will not judge you. I can only pray that God gives you grace. It will be up to you to decide how you use that gift which no amount of influence or power can buy.
“Nigerians are saddened that your sacred temples have been invaded by the political class leaving the toxic fumes that now threaten your reputation as the last hope for all citizens. It is sad that your hard earned reputation is undergoing very severe stress and pressure from those who want justice on their own terms.
“Nigerians are looking up to you to reclaim their trust in you as the interpreters of the spirit of our laws. The future of our country is in your hands. You have only your consciences and your God to answer to when you listen to the claims and counter claims of Nigerian lawyers you and have to decide the future of our country.
“We pray that God gives you the wisdom to see what is right and the strength of character and conscience to stand by the truth. You have no obligation to please any one. Our future depends on how you arrive at your much awaited judgement.”
He hailed the Nigerian youths for their courage and active participation during the elections, noting that their involvement has changed the dynamics of politics in the country, and urged them to be mindful of their actions which determines tomorrow.
“Things will never be the same again. However, the youth do not belong to any single party, no matter the temptation. You must look at the mistakes of the past and avoid them. Note that your actions today will shape tomorrow. Learn the rules of good sportsmanship, know rules, know your roles, know when to fight, what to fight for and know when to walk away so you can embrace other fights.
“In all, most of you did well, but some of your colleagues lost their lives in the hands of members of your own groups. Keep the dreams, but know the contours of the long road ahead,” he added.
The Bishop prayed God to heal the country of her infirmities, banish the evils of insecurity, negative attitudes that breeds disunity and give citizens the spirit of forgiveness.
He further prayed for a peaceful transition to a new government, eternal rest for those that have died and the strength to start again.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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