Buhari Must Make Sure Nothing Happens To Bishop Matthew Kukah – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has come out to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement, where he said Bishop Matthew Kukah must be allowed to practice his faith and politics.

CAN recently reacted to the statement signed by Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to the religious body, however, Buhari has to start backing his words with actions by making sure no harm befalls the Catholic Bishop.

CAN added that Buhari should move beyond lip service and order his security agencies to protect the man of God.

A recent statement read, “We have been watching the unfolding scenario since Bishop Kukah spoke his mind on the State of the Nation in his Christmas homily and how some groups of people have been threatening him with fire and brimstone while all relevant security agencies are pretending as if nothing unusual is happening.”

“We wonder if those threatening the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto are above the law or if they are sacred cows in the country.”

“Bishop Kukah was posted to serve in Sokoto by the Papacy and threatening him to leave is a global threat to Christianity.

“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.

“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.”

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and all the security agencies to ensure that no harm befalls the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah.

“As far as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is concerned, what he said in his Christmas Homily was still within the ambience of the law.”

“It is high time those hiding under religious sentiments to promote violence and crises stopped doing so if we want this country to progress.”

“We have had enough of bloodshed in the country and we call on the security agencies to rise up to their constitutional responsibilities. Nothing must happen to Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.”