Matthew Kukah, bishop of Sokoto Catholic diocese, says President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his duties to Nigerians.
In a statement on Sunday, Kukah said the president’s policies have fuelled corruption, social and religious wars, adding that Buhari has neglected the constitution’s federal character provisions.
According to the cleric, nepotism has eaten deep into the country as a result of “entrusting power into the hands of mediocre who operate as a cult and see power purely as an extension of the family heirloom.”
“It is sad that despite your lofty promises, you are leaving us far more vulnerable than when you came, that the corruption we thought would be fought has become a leviathan and sadly, a consequence of a government marked by nepotism,” Kukah said.
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“A caste system has emerged in our country. It has consolidated its hold and blunted the cutting edge of all institutions. A majority of its children are swimming against the tide for survival with no support while the other caste smiles in the comfort of their life jackets.
“Clearly, in almost every department and with all indicators, our nation has become a tale of two cities. We have wars between the rich and the poor, men and women, across generations, along party lines, social classes, religion, ethnicity and so on. The centre has given up in almost every department. Fixing our country and getting it back requires courage, honesty, truth, humility, trust and firm commitment. Lies and blackmail are no substitute.”
The bishop’s comment comes weeks after he asked Nigerians not to fight over politicians who are after pecuniary gains but consider them as friends who should not be regarded seriously.
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In his Christmas message, Kukah reiterated his position, asking Nigerians to come together and erect new mechanisms for saying no to the “violence of governance”.
“Why has progress eluded us? Who would have imagined, after listening to the campaign speeches ahead of the 2015 elections, the new president’s inaugural speech, that we will be so worse off than we were? Yet, it could get even worse if we do not pause and pause very seriously,” the cleric said.
“We need a new strategy to confront those who sit on the throne of power in arrogance and are determined to reduce our country to a jungle. We need a new strategy that separates men and women of honour from those who have chosen dishonour.
“We need a new strategy that provides a clearer moral guide for ordinary citizens who, based on the moral strength of culture and religion, are seeking to build a good society, even if with straws. We need to stand up and stand firm. We need new mechanisms for saying no to the violence of governance.”
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On Saturday, Buhari said he is doing his best for Nigerians but it is not good enough.
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