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  • Northern Christians hail Tinubu over Kukah, Qurix’s appointment  

    Northern Christians hail Tinubu over Kukah, Qurix’s appointment  

    The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has described the recent appointments of Bishop Matthew Kukah, Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas, and Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu as a vindication of its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 general elections.

    President Tinubu had appointed Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State. 

    Prof. Qurix was named the Vice-Chancellor of the same institution, while Dr. Haruna was appointed as the Chief Medical Director of the newly established Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints Kukah Pro-Chancellor of Federal University of Applied Sciences Kachia

    In a statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, NCYP said the appointments had sparked widespread celebration in Southern Kaduna, describing them as a demonstration of Tinubu’s commitment to fairness and equity.

    “The NCYP sees this as a vindication of our decision to support and campaign for President Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 elections—despite opposition from many within our faith. Today, we stand proud as Southern Kaduna, a predominantly Christian region, rejoices over these landmark achievements,” the statement read.

    The group commended Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, Hon. Amos Gwamna, and other lawmakers for their roles in advocating for the institutions.

    It also urged residents of the region to embrace religious tolerance, stressing that peaceful coexistence was necessary for the full realization of the benefits of the new institutions.

  • We must stand united to build our country, Kukah tells Nigerians

    We must stand united to build our country, Kukah tells Nigerians

    • Ex-CDS Irabor to writers: refrain from painting military in bad light

    The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah, has said the worst period in the nation’s history is over.

    He urged fellow citizens to remain united and build a better country.

    Rev Kukah spoke yesterday at the launchof a book, titled: Judiciary Terrorism, at the Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

    The eminent cleric noted that many issues arose across the country because many citizens lacked the understanding of what it means to be without a nation.

    He advised fellow Nigerians to learn from the happenings in Gaza (Palestine), Lebanon, and Ukraine, saying turning against one another was counterproductive.

    Rev Kukah said: “We might assume, and I think we are going to assume, that the worst times in our history are over. But let us remain eternally together. Because what we have and what we hold is a treasure.

    Read Also: Abdulsalami, Kukah: responsive governance key to addressing discontent

    “This is a heck of a country, and it’s a great country. And people have laid down their lives for this country. I used to say to Nigerians: you know we are just joking because we don’t know what it is to be without a country.

    “What did the people of Gaza do? What did the people of Lebanon do? What did the people of Valencia do? We are hearing stories of earthquakes and incredible things happening that are sweeping the lives of hundreds of thousands of people daily.

    “But in Nigeria, it is us who are collectively turning the knife on ourselves. I think that going forward, the most important thing for you as a Christian is to develop the spirit of forgiveness. Nothing will happen that is outside the boundary of the divine will of God.”

    Rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who was represented by labour leader and journalist, Owei Lakemfa, said 32 years after civil rule, the country’s judicial system still harboured military parasites in its blood and system.

    He said: “When the (Muhammadu) Buhari administration in 2019 was not sure it could control the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, it got the Code of Conduct Tribunal to accuse him of alleged false assets declaration. That way, it got rid of the CJN. It was not until November 2024 that he was discharged and acquitted.”

  • Abdulsalami, Kukah: responsive governance key to addressing discontent

    Abdulsalami, Kukah: responsive governance key to addressing discontent

    • National Peace Committee to hold stakeholders’ meeting today in Abuja

    The Chairman and the Convener of National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, have said a national stakeholders’ meeting will hold today in Abuja to discuss how to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing the country.

    In a statement yesterday, the committee’s leaders said last year’s general election was marked by a renewed sense of optimism and desire for change among Nigerians.

    They said the optimism was demonstrated in the number of people who registered for the elections – 93,469,008 million, compared to just 57,938,945 million registered voters in 1999.

    “Nigerians believed that the 2023 elections would usher in an administration that would swiftly address the nation’s lingering socio-economic challenges.

    “The preparations for the elections heightened the hopes for positive socio-economic and political change. However, the outcome of the keenly contested presidential elections amplified the regional and ethnic cleavages that have underpinned our journey of nationhood,” the statement read.

    Read Also: Only losers cry

    It added that the well-intentioned policy of the government to improve the lives and well-being of Nigerians is yet to meet the expectations of the citizens while the economic strain is being felt by all and sundry.

    “This dire situation has fuelled frustration and discontent, culminating in the recent nationwide protests on hunger.

    “The demands made during the protests reflect the deep-seated challenges facing the country and the urgent need for responsive and effective governance.

    “In response to this and in line with its mandate to mediate and intervene in electoral and non-electoral matters that impact on the peace and stability of Nigeria, the NPC has decided to convene a one-day town hall meeting with critical stakeholders to discuss frankly and explore the pathways to support the government in addressing and overcoming the current socio-political and economic situation facing the country,” the statement said.

    The committee said the meeting will hold today at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre in Abuja.

    It said: “This meeting will provide a platform for constructive dialogue and collaboration, where the concerns and aspirations of the people can be discussed, and the outcomes are presented to the government.

    “It is a crucial step towards bridging the gap between the government and its citizens, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their legitimate concerns addressed.”

  • State of the nation: Communicate situations better with citizens – Kukah tells govt

    State of the nation: Communicate situations better with citizens – Kukah tells govt

    Fiery clergy, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has tasked the government to take effective communication with Nigerians on the state of their country more seriously, noting that “Nigerians are in a very difficult situation.”

    Bishop Kukah spoke to journalists on Wednesday, May 15, at the State House, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in his office, noting however that it would be hasty to conclude an assessment of a new administration in just a year of its life.

    Kukah, who said he visited the State House with the Director of the Kukah Centre, Ftr Atta Barkindo, to discuss an upcoming event with President Tinubu, further said that Nigerians also have to come to terms with the fact that building a good society does not happen in a hurry.

    Despite the challenges, Bishop Kukah remains optimistic about Nigeria’s future, emphasizing the importance of building a good society over time.

    He encouraged the government to continue working on initiatives that are showing promise and to prioritize national cohesion, urging the government to improve communication to give Nigerians a sense of hope and direction.

    “I’m sure many people will tell you that one year is not enough to make a judgment. However, from where we all stand, we know that we are all in a very difficult situation.

    “Nigerians are in various levels of pain and they are pains that are unintended. But they are the results of certain policy decisions that hopefully, with time, can be amended to serve the welfare of the people.

    “Because I believe that the essence of government is to guarantee the welfare and security of ordinary citizens. I believe that the times that we are in now are very difficult times and nobody should be under any illusion. But there are also times for renewal.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Bishop Kukah visits Tinubu in Abuja

    “We just need to commit ourselves to the fact that building a good society takes a lot of time. It’s not something that is done in one lifetime and for me, the most important thing is to continue on the building blocks of the things that we think are being done well.

    “My argument has always been that the government needs to very quickly improve the quality of communication so that Nigerians can at least get a sense of how long is it going to be before food is ready”, he said.

    Asked to share his thoughts about the political crisis in Rivers State, Kukah refrained from commenting, saying that politicians can resolve their issues.

    “Well, I don’t live in Rivers State. Look, this is politics and very often, we ordinary people cry more than the bereaved.  The important thing is politicians will fix their problems.

    “Rivers State is a place that is very dear to me because I have been associated with them for a very long period of time.

    “But look, when politicians fight, don’t get carried away because they have their capacity to fix their quarrel and I hope and pray that Rivers State will sooner rather than later reposition because it is not an insignificant part of Nigeria”, he said.

  • Kukah wins 2023 Mundo Negro Fraternity award

    Kukah wins 2023 Mundo Negro Fraternity award

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has won this year’s Mundo Negro Fraternity Award.

    Bishop Kukah, who is the Founder of the Kukah Centre, will also get a €10,000 cash reward with the award to be formally presented to him in Madrid on February 3, 2024.

    A statement by the Executive Director of The Kukah Centre, Fr. Attah Barkindo, announced the award yesterday in Abuja.

    Read Also: Bishop Kukah wins 2023 Mundo Negro fraternity award

    Barkindo said the news was conveyed through a letter signed by Fr. Enrique Bayo Mata, a priest of the Comboni Missionaries and Director of the Madrid-based Spanish magazine, Mundo Negro.

    The letter said the magazine organises the encounter with Africa every year during which the award is given to a chosen African personality or institution that has been characterised by their contribution to the construction of a better world and a better African continent.

    The letter added: “Our eyes have been opened to the excellent work of the Kukah Centre, founded by you.”

    Reacting to the award, Barkindo said: “We at the Kukah Centre are humbled by this show of appreciation to the contributions of the founder of our centre. While we congratulate our Founder, Bishop Kukah, we sincerely thank the initiators of this award. We promise that this award will spur us all to work even harder in promoting the ideals that Bishop Kukah represents to make the world a better place through the activities of the Kukah Centre.”

  • Kukah worries over Nigeria’s division

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, yesterday expressed concern over the manner Nigerians voted along regional and ethnic lines in the last general election.

    He wondered if the trend persists, where the capacity for managing the nation’s diversity would come from.

    He said that “We are practicing politics of very poor quality. The politics is so regionalised, factionalised. Whenever I look at the map of the last elections, I don’t feel proud as a Nigerian.

    “That you have an election in which very clearly the country is divided into two and the lines are precise, meaning what the north is saying and thinking is different from what the south is saying and thinking. They are not reality they are perception. And if this is the kind of county we have, how do we develop the capacity to manage the diversity.”

    He spoke in Abuja during his lecture presentation on Optimizing Public Relations Strategies for National Cohesion”, at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

    According to him, the nation has been so divided that even the appointments of universities Vice Chancellors are based on state of origin and religion.

    He noted that it is now impossible for a southerner to become vice chancellors in regions other than their own.

    The priest urged the federal government to interrogate the governors that introduced Sharia law in 1999, on the emergence of Boko Haram sect.

    He said the areas of operation of the sect are now contiguous with the areas where the Sharia declarations were made, stressing that to create a much better, just and fair society, hypocrisy has to stop.

    He said it is now virtually impossible to travel from Sokoto to Zamfara by road because of insecurity in the country.

    The priest recalled that “in 1999, Sharia law was declared in Nigeria, and almost all the 19 northern states joyfully, exuberantly adopted Sharia. Boko Haram and bandits have now taken over our country,” he said.

    Kukah has, in the last few years, delivered a lecture on national cohesion, adding that the nation’s current challenges are due to inability to manage its diversity. He said to tackle the issue of diversity; there must be an excellent application of team work management skill.

    According to him, the nation’s quest for national cohesion remains an illusion because too many issues have not been resolved.

    He noted that Nigeria has no clarity of vision and it is only in this country that people drive vehicles without navigational aids.

    Kukah also said there is no institution in Nigeria that has not been taken over by quacks, “including our politics.”

    He said that whereas the universities should have been the ones to proffer solutions to national issues in the country, there has been a persistent war between them and the government.

    The academic experts that should brief the president are never engaged to do so.

  • Osinbajo, Kukah, BHM CEO, others for NIPR conference

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo would grace the 2019 Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) conference in Abuja, today, as the Special Guest of Honour.

    Also billed to attend is  Bishop Matthew Kukah, who will give a keynote speech.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Public Relations and Digital Communications Agency, BHM, Ayeni Adekunle  is also expected to join a panel discussion at the  conference.

    The Conference with the theme: ‘Optimising Public Relations Strategies for National Cohesion,’ is part of the scheduled activities of the institute’s three-day 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

    Ayeni, an entrepreneur and investor with interests in public relations, advertising, media, Human capital management, technology, and entertainment. He founded BHM in 2006 and the company currently serves a wide range of high end clientele spread across different sectors including FMCGs, Telecommunication, and Media Services.

    BHM has pioneered several initiatives in the Nigerian PR sector, one of them being the BHM App, which serves as a pool of resources for the Nigerian public relations practitioners and credited as the “first PR mobile application”.

    The company is also responsible for the first-ever Nigeria PR Report, containing insights across key areas in the Nigeria PR industry. First Published  in 2016, the Nigeria PR Report is the country’s first-ever annual report on Public Relations, dedicated to gathering, chronicling and analysing data on trends, perceptions, challenges and prospects within the industry.

    As part of efforts to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of public relations in Nigeria, BHM has also published a book to help practitioners. Titled BHM Guide to Public Relations, the 138-page interactive digital book contains tips, tools and tricks for everyone interested in smart PR.

    BHM is also responsible for “Concept Of Virality”, the widely-praised report, which used Nigerian hawker-turned-model Olajumoke Orisaguna as case study, outlining the DNA of a viral story.

  • Anyaoku, Kukah seek transparent election at Tribune’s70 anniversary

    FORMER Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku has warned that the international community will adjudge the forthcoming election by its transparency.

    He urged the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to ensure the elections that are free, fair and credible, noting that utterances from political stakeholders were heating the polity.

    Anyaoku, who was the chairman at the unveiling of ‘New Look Tribune’ and celebration of African Newspaper of Nigeria PLC’s 70 years of progressive journalism, said the country’s friends and international community are watching.

    In a symposium titled, “Electoral integrity, legitimacy of democratic institution and good governance”, the former Commonwealth Secretary General said the country should be careful not to become a pariah nation.

    He said the country witnessed large-scale of human debasement in recent times, noting that everything  must be done to ensure the sanctity of lives.

    “Nigeria today is underperforming and not cohesive as expected.

    “It is, therefore, imperative to ensure that the results of the election reflect the wishes of the Nigerian people. The image of our country within this international community will be defined by how Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government are seen to have prevailed in all matters concerning the elections.

    “The country is underperforming and lack national cohesion. Therefore, I think the way out of all these challenges is to restructure the country. We must return to true federalism as practiced in the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others.”

    The keynote speaker, Rev. Matthew Kukah, said those who found themselves in position of leadership were not prepared for it, adding this was responsible for administrative failure.

    He said the deteriorating state of affairs suggested that democracy had not delivered to the majority of the people.

    According to him, this was due to ill-preparation of leaders, who were thrust upon the people unceremoniously.

    “A simple example is the climate of trepidation, anxiety and fear that gripped the nation as the elections draw near. The monologue that characterises the elections has turned the campaign into a source of mere entertainment.

    “The presidential candidates crisscross the country with their huge army of supporters hurriedly assembled and shove from one stadium or open square to the other, adorned in polychromatic attires, promising electricity while they campaign in darkness.”

    Kukah maintained that the political scene had been consumed by the politics of ethnicity and religious, forcing the young well-trained idealists into blind alley of regionalism.

    He said despite the peace accord signed by the political parties under the Gen. Abdulsalami  Abubakar-led National Peace Committee (NPC), many of them have reneged on their promises.

    The cleric noted that the promise by them to ensure decent campaign, free from calumny, provocation and hate speech have been relegated.

    African Newspapers Nigeria PLC Chairman Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said the celebration was to review the legacy of Tribune and reposition it for the better.

    She added that the paper made remarkable contributions to the development of democracy in the country, stressing that despite the challenges facing it, it did not renege from the ideas of its founder, Awolowo.

    Present at the event are former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Olabode George, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, eminent scholar Prof. Adebayo William, Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Peoples Democratic Party candidate in Lagos State Jimi Agbaje, Odia Ofeimun,   Young Progressives Party presidential candidate Kingsley Moghalu, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Akarigbo of Remoland Oba Adewale Ajayi, Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Fasoranti, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Femi Okunrounmu, Mrs. Sinatu Ojukutu, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dr. Obadiah Malafia, Lagos State Information Commissioner Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan and others.

  • Politicians not Nigeria’s messiahs, says Kukah

    SOKOTO Catholic Diocese Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has said the general expectations of Nigerians in having politicians as messiahs to tackle the country’s challenges would remain a mirage.

    Kukah, who spoke on a wide range of national issues at an annual end of year interactive session with reporters in Sokoto on Sunday, said he felt a bit pity for the Nigerian politician.

    “The truth of the matter is that our citizens believe in having  messiahs, who will come and resolve our problems. Nobody would have expected what we thought about what the government will do. Whether it is President Muhammadu Buhari today or not and whether he is able to fulfil his promises or not, is not the issue. Even beyond Buhari, if we remain in this era of expectation of a messiah, every messiah will always be a disappointment.”

    The cleric noted that Nigeria’s challenges were far beyond the powers of an ordinary human being to deliver us as expected.

    He attributed Nigeria’s multi-dimensional political, economic and socio cultural challenges to lack of national cohesion and refusal to take collective responsibility in unity.

    He wondered if it was Nigeria’s fate as a nation to be where it is today, saying: “We feel we have gotten out of the pits only to find out that we are being drawn back.”

    According to the cleric, “the country may have missed the major link of how to be united.”

    Kukah said many Nigerians would by now not be subjected to addressing issues relating to anxiety, especially on elections.

    “When the last general elections were held, everything went beyond our expectations despite our anxieties,” he noted.

    He explained that anxieties over elections were due to the growing lack of confidence in the country, believing and trusting politicians in their ability to unite the citizens.

    Notwithstanding, Kukah observed that the political class had over time since return to democracy not done as much as expected by Nigerians.

    “Maybe it’s because we are dealing with a political system (presidential) given to us and that which we collectively choose to run. And if we have not been faithful with the presidential system, there is apparently nothing to suggest that we will be faithful with the parliamentary system.

    “And whenever anything goes wrong, we blame it on bad politicians in the course of outsourcing our collective responsibilities as citizens. But they did not come from a different planet. They are part of us as blood brothers, fathers and relations,” he explained.

    The Bishop also said he had always told and reminded both Christians and Muslim faithful that “Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad” never had an easy time.

    “Our prayer and hope are that our fears and anxieties are not well-founded. Even as our anxieties about our elections are propelled by our fears,” he said.

    On the outright perceived mistrust between the two major religious divides, Kukah, who blamed Nigerians for their inability to figure out the real political class that could unite the country, expressed concerns over how religion was unnecessarily accorded undue prominence with little regards for common citizenship, especially when it relates to appointments, rights and privileges.

    “I must be so emphatic that the political class remains guilty of that too, trying to manage power. The president or deputy must be Christian or Muslim.

    “Managing differences is a science and unless our politicians understand the value, we would not appreciate ourselves as a united bloc,” he said.

  • ‘Kukah no longer fit to sit on National Peace Committee’

    THE Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has  flayed Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese Matthew Kukah for his involvement in the alleged endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    BMO said the cleric was longer fit to be part of the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar for his partisanship.

    The group accused the cleric of openly engaging in partisan politics by leading other religious leaders to seek former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement for Atiku, who is now Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

    But Rev. FR. Kukah had said he only took part in a reconciliation process between Obasanjo and the former vice president and not an endorsement.

    In a statement signed by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group stressed that the Abubakar-led committee should be seen to be non-partisan because of the role it played in the run up to the 2015 election.

    They said: “We are surprised, like many Nigerians, to see Bishop Kukah in the company of the opposition candidate at a reconciliation meeting with former President Obasanjo, and later on claiming to be the strategic mind behind the reconciliation, which we believe was targeted towards bringing the two parties together to fight the President Buhari administration.

    “This is not expected of a clergyman, who is seen in some quarters as the alternate head of the National Peace Committee. He has shown his bias and as such cannot be trusted to be non-partisan.”

    Dismissing the claim that he was not aware of the political nature of the gathering, the group said: “The clergyman was the key figure behind the reconciliation and did this knowing that Atiku was a PDP presidential aspirant.

    “And if it is true that Bishop Kukah is insisting that he was only exercising his right to free movement, we are also demanding that having shown his hand, he has no reason to sit on a panel that is meant to be non-partisan.”

    Reacting to reports credited to Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal that President Buhari is not in charge of government but only ruling the country by proxy, the group assured Nigerians that the President was fully in charge and in control of the government. It added that anyone who is in doubt of this is in grave error.

    The BMO said it was clear from his utterances that Tambuwal was getting frustrated after failing go get the PDP’s presidential ticket, describing him as a failed politician.

    They alleged that due to his lack of confidence in himself, he depended solely on the support of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for his failed presidential bid and having failed to realise his ambition, Tambuwal has now become a stooge of the PDP presidential candidate.

    They said: “We wish to note that Governor Tambuwal has not only failed to serve the people of Sokoto State diligently in the past three and half years, but has, in his utterances, displayed crass ignorance on sensitive national issues.”

    “Perhaps the clearest evidence of Tambuwal’s failure as a politician and governor is that he has turned himself into an errand boy of his fellow contestant Atiku Abubakar and the opposition PDP.

    “We, therefore, advise the Sokoto State Governor to stop deluding himself about his party defeating President Buhari in the 2019 presidential election as Nigerians have already taken note of Buhari’s commitment towards solving the myriad of problems confronting the country, and they are poised to re-elect him as president in 2019.”