Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, is facing backlash over what critics have described as a reversal in his position on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Human rights activist, Dr Thompson Udenwa, in a statement issued in Abuja, accused the respected cleric of inconsistency, citing Kukah’s recent remarks at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom held at the Augustinianum Hall, Vatican City.

At the event, held on October 21, Bishop Kukah acknowledged Nigeria’s deep-rooted security and governance challenges but urged the international community not to impose sanctions or diplomatically isolate the country.

Udenwa, however, expressed disappointment, recalling that Kukah was among those who previously lobbied the United States Government to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over rising religious intolerance, church attacks, and targeted killings of Christians in the North and Middle Belt.

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“It is confusing that the same bishop who, in 2021, addressed the American Congress and lamented the Buhari administration’s alleged indifference to Christian persecution is now advocating against the very measure he once described as moral justice,” Udenwa said.

He argued that such a shift undermines the credibility of religious advocacy and could be interpreted as politically motivated. “This inconsistency should not be seen in political and religious leaders. Truth should be upheld regardless of who is in power,” he added.

While acknowledging Kukah’s emphasis on dialogue, Udenwa warned that soft-pedaling on international pressure could embolden authorities to continue evading accountability for attacks on faith communities.

The development has sparked debate among religious and civil society groups, with many questioning whether Kukah’s latest position reflects a strategic recalibration or a departure from principled advocacy. As the conversation deepens, calls for consistency and moral clarity in religious leadership continue to echo across Nigeria’s socio-political landscape.