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Tag: Mathew Kukah

  • Kukah’s offer and North’s abdication

    SIR: Mathew Kukah’s proposition to, on his own, vocationally train almajiri children in our midst is worthy of applause, although a heavy blow to the North. No matter how we try to convince ourselves or others of the possibility of his having an ulterior motive in that offer, our suspicion is worthless and a waste of time.

    First, where are the parents of these helpless kids and what are they doing? Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was reported to have said: “… Each of you is a shepherd and each of you shall be asked concerning his flock… “. Also said: “It is sufficient sin for a man if he neglects those on whom he is obliged to spend.”

    While the Qur’an says: “O you, who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…” (Quran, 66:6). This verse and the hadiths convey commandments meant to be complied with by Muslim parents regarding their dependants. We, here in the cities, bear children and try no matter our poor status to take care of these kids just to comply with the above injunctions, while certain people who even seem to be faster in reproduction want us here to act on their behalf. With what?

    My take: our governments are supposed to ban almajirchi and force parents everywhere to fend for their kids, but conditionally aid those who are truly incapable. The wealthy among us must also do the needful if we don’t want someone else’s intrusion.

     

    • Ismaila M. Sokoto,

    UsmanuDanfodiyo University, Sokoto.

  • Kukah, N’Abba, want end to killings

    ….Imansuangbon blames politicians for killings

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali N’Abba, at the weekend called for an end to the killings and violence in some parts of the country.

    They both agreed that the country was not in a good place right now.

    The former speaker and clergy man spoke at the graduation ceremony of students of Pacesetter Group of Schools, on Saturday, in Abuja.

    Kukah said there was need for the Federal Government to take concrete action to end the killings going on in some parts of the country.

    He said: “I don’t think where Nigeria is now does good to anybody. Prayers are important but they are not enough. We need to also see some really practical actions.

    “We are hemorrhaging badly. Everybody who lives in this country knows and whatever needs to be done- and I think those in power understands what needs to be done and we need to be properly communicated with.

    “We cannot have a country where illiterate people, people who have no contribution to really make to this country, wherever they are coming from, men and women of darkness to take over the country. It is not acceptable and the reason why government exists is to secure the territorial space of Nigeria. Where we are we are not working.”

    On his part, the former speaker sought for collaborations to end the killings in the country.

    Read Also:How to end killings, by ex-IG Abbah, Senator Ibrahim, others

    According to him, the federal government alone cannot handle the current situation the country has found itself.

    Mr. N’Abba said: “I think a long time ago communities must have been engaged properly by this administration. I don’t think communities are being engaged. These conflicts have been raging on even before this administration and I thought the administration must have been prepared enough to meet with most communities where these conflicts have been taking place with a view to engaging them not on one off basis but on a continuous basis. I don’t see this happening.

    “I don’t think it has been handled in the most appropriate manner. I don’t think he (Buhari) can handle this problem alone and the impression he has given most people is that he is working alone.

    “If he wants to solve problems in this country he has to engage many people as possible- elders, the party and everybody that can assist. Problems cannot be solved just governmentally and that is what I think they are doing and not everybody in the government possess the right kind of wisdom for them to be able to solve these intricate problems.”

    Chairman of Pacesetters Group of Schools, Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon described the present situation in the country as disturbing.

    He blamed the violence and killings in the country on the struggle for power by politicians.

    Barr. Imansuangbon said: “What is happening in our country today is very laughable and disturbing. This is not the Nigeria that we know. This was not the Nigeria Tafawa Balewa, Saudana, Okotie-Eboh, Prof. Ambros Ali, Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Okpara gave to us. They left a good and united country for us. In their time there was no killings.

    “I will hold the past 17 years of politicians responsible for this evil and shameful killings. As far as I am concerned I have no respect for any politician because they are selfish and greedy.

    “I don’t think this is a Christian – Muslim war but the drums of war are beating. We can see it.

    “We need to support the president now for us to have peace, good elections, create jobs, for roads to work and for water to run. Every Nigerian has the constitutional responsibility to make sure the country works.

    “It’s a shame to our generation that we are now human killers and eaters. What is happening in Nigeria if you don’t know the consequence, it will take the next 100 years for somebody to believe in our country. Do you think a serious human being will want to invest in Nigeria with the killings? Very soon if we don’t stop this nonsense everybody will pay the price- both the rich and the poor.”

  • Priest says rejection of Ahiara Bishop ‘disgrace’ to Catholic Church

    Priest says rejection of Ahiara Bishop ‘disgrace’ to Catholic Church

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Philip Jamang, has described the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke by some members of Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise, in Imo, as a “disgrace” to the Catholic Church.

    Jamang, Parish Priest of Church of Assumption, Chongo Pyel, Jos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was particularly wrong for some priests to support those against a Bishop appointed by the Pope.

    “Their action is strange; it is an insult never heard of in the Catholic Church,” he said on Monday in Jos.

    NAN reports that Ahiara Catholic Diocese has remained without a Bishop, more than four years after the death of its pioneer Bishop, Rt. Rev. Victor Chikwe, after the rejection of Okpalaeke, who was appointed and consecrated in 2012.

    Sources indicated that a section of Mbaise priests, supported by a segment of the laity, had remained opposed to  Okpalaeke, citing clannish differences.

    In May 2017, the Pope gave the Diocese a 30-day ultimatum to accept Okpalaeke and apologise over their unruly behaviour to him, or face sanctions.

    The ultimatum expired last month without compliance.

    Jamang, while reacting to the lingering disagreement, said that the action of the priests and the laity had demeaned the Catholic Church and the sacred place of the Pontiff.

    “The Catholic Church is a united entity known for sanity and dignity. If today some sections of the Church, including priests in Ahiara, are rejecting a Bishop on the basis of clan, then something is really wrong.

    “Most of the Bishops are not natives of Dioceses where they serve. Bishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, for instance, is from Jalingo in Taraba. Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese is from Kaduna State.

    “For any Catholic faithful to insist that his or her Bishop must be a native of the area he is posted, is very odd and strange,” he said.

    Jamang urged Catholics and other Christians to accept and support people ordained by God and sent to work with them as his ministers, and avoid actions that would bring shame to Christianity.

    He also called on Christians to pray for the unity of the Church and Nigeria in general.

  • Lalong, Tambuwal laud Catholic Church for its contributions to national development

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to the religious, educational, medical and infrastructure development of Nigeria.

    The governors made the commendations on Thursday at the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos.

    Lalong said that the impact of the church on the lives of Nigerians could not be quantified.

    He said that Plateau was blessed with numerous Christian institutions that had accounted for the training, character and spiritual formation of many citizens of the state.

    “The 50 years of existence of St. Augustine’s Major Seminary is no doubt worthy of celebration.

    “For a school that has produced 20 bishops and scores of priests, religious and laity that are in the service of the Lord at home and abroad, it is indeed worthy of our attention and support.

    “This seminary remains a real asset to the universal Church because as a spiritual hob for the training of ministers of the gospel, it is a vehicle through which ministers are thoroughly prepared to holistically address the spiritual and physical well- being of Nigerians in the Catholic Church and beyond,” he said.

    Gov Tambuwal also highlighted the contributions of the Church and promised to work with other state governors and friends to support the seminary, particularly in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure.

    He said that the seminary had contributed significantly to character moulding and morality.

    “We appreciate the contribution of this great institution and we pray God Almighty to strengthen the leadership and membership so that they will continue deliver on the good deeds.

    “I commend the Catholic Church for its contributions to the development of this country as the history of the development of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter dedicated to the Church.

    “I am aware not only of the age of the institution but the ageing infrastructure, and we (governors) have agreed to contact our friends to assist the seminary handsomely,” he said.

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathew Kukah, in an address, said that the Church had many priests working outside Nigeria and promoting the image of the country.

    Kukah said that there were more than 1,500 priests and nuns  working and promoting the image of Nigeria abroad, including in places that Nigeria had yet to establish diplomatic missions.

    The bishop said that the Church had been involved in human capital development even before the emergence of the country  and urged the Federal Government to take the Catholic Church serious for its contributions to national development.

  • Social media inciting Nigerians – NBC DG

    The Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Modibbo Kawu, says the social media remains the biggest source of incitement and distribution of unsubstantiated crudely insensitive reports in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kawu spoke in Sokoto on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day National Conference of Catholic Social and Communication Directors.

    NAN also reports that the conference has as its theme: “The Nigerian Media: The Ethics of Reporting Violence in Nigeria.”

    Represented by Dr Armstrong Idachaba, a Director in his office, Kawu said: “I must now draw our attention to the now evident – not emerging anymore – danger of the insensitivity of the social media.

    “It does not even pretend to any ethical foundations and it does not give a damn about it. I will indulge us to investigate this disturbing trend.

    “The role of the social media is adding salt to the injuries created by the lack of ethics by the media.”

    Kawu reiterated that the media has a patriotic and professional role to play in reporting violence.

    “In all, it must remember that beyond reporting, it must protect the sanctity and humanity of the Nigerian society at all time.

    “It must be sensitive to the national ethos and the sanctity of humanity.”

    Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Mathew Kukah, admonished Journalists to always make honesty, patriotism and the love for peace and unity as their watchwords.

    “Often, there is much anxiety as to how the media get their information for their reportage.

    “The decisions journalists make can make countries to decide to go to war or not.

    “Journalists must yet be respected, but they should work according to the ethics of their noble profession,” Kukah added.

    A former Director-General of NBC, Mallam Danladi Bako said,” conflict can be induced or inflamed by the mischievous use and dissemination of false information, such that it can ignite or accelerate the spread of conflict.”

    Bako, a former Information Commissioner in Sokoto State, delivered a paper entitled: Managing Information in Conflict Situations.

    “Rumours come in here as information packaged by mischief makers. The information flow between the pre-conflict, conflict and post conflict periods are very crucial,” Bako said.

    The Social Director, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Father Sixtus Onuh, explained that the conference would brainstorm on extant ethics of Journalism and strict adherence to it by practitioner.

    NAN reports that participants at the conference were drawn from Catholic Provinces and Dioceses and media organizations from across Nigeria.