Threats: CAN demands special security for Kukah

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to provide adequate security for Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, currently under attacks over his Christmas message in which he accused the President of promoting northern hegemony.

It also cautioned those threatening the bishop to stop their action, warning that no harm must befall the cleric.

A statement by the CAN’s General Secretary, Rev. Joseph Daramola, condemned the threats on Kukah since he spoke on the state of the nation in his Christmas sermon.

The statement came after the presidency had also cautioned an Islamic group that demanded that Kukah should apologise or quit Sokoto State for allegedly attacking Muslims.

The presidency said in a statement by a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, that it was wrong for the Soko-based group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, to ask Kukah to apologise or leave the seat of the Caliphate over the comment.

Kukah had said that there could have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president had done a fraction of what Buhari did.

CAN wondered if those threatening the bishop were above the law or sacred cows in the country.

It said, “We have studied the whole Christmas message of Dr. Kukah and we are yet to see any incitement against Islam or non-Christians. We see nothing wrong in his message to the nation that has been under the siege of terrorists, herdsmen, killers, bandits and kidnappers as if there was no government in place.

“We see nothing wrong in telling a government whose lopsided appointments are against Christians the whole truth.

“If criticism against a Muslim president today is an incitement to violence against Islam, it then means those who were criticising the duo of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan when they were in power were actually attacking Christianity.

“When has it become an offence to speak the truth to power? When has it become a crime to criticise a government in the country?”

The CAN wondered why security operatives had failed to arrest those threatening to attack the bishop.

“When did the police and the Directorate of the State Security Services lose their power to miscreants and lawless people who are making boasts of their lawlessness without a challenge? We wonder if those Muslim groups who are threatening to deal with Kukah got an equal response from their Christian counterparts. Are we not setting up the country on fire?”

CAN said threatening Kukah to leave Sokoto amounted to a threat to Christianity worldwide because he was posted there to serve by the Papacy.

“In this same country, we have a Catholic priest whose name is synonymous with President Muhammadu Buhari, yet the Catholic Church has not deemed it fit to sanction him because freedom of speech and association is not only a constitutional matter but godly,” CAN said.

The association called on the security agencies to rise up to their constitutional responsibilities, adding, “Nothing must happen to Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.”