The Northern Christians Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) has distanced itself from statements credited to Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto criticising President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The group, in a statement signed by its President, Rev. Dr. Josiah Nabut, on Sunday in Barnawa, Kaduna State warned Bishop Kukah to avoid ‘using the pulpit for political gains.’
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According to the Northern Christians, the cleric “is derailing and shifting from the purpose of serving the laity and has now become a tool in the hands of politicians.
The NCFN noted that most of Bishop Kukah’s claims against Buhari are “rehash from certain political oracles he usually visits.
The group, however, urged Kukah to desist from lending himself to be “used by politicians because his gift is to serve all of humanity, not himself.”
“I Didn’t Call For A Military Coup”
Kukah had denied calling for a military coup in the country in his Christmas massage that has generated a lot of controversy.
He explained that “if you call for a coup, it means it is something that has not happened yet. It is something that will happen in the future.
” So if I call for it, it means it is not ready.
“So it is unfair for any journalist or newspapers to say that I call for a military coup,” he said.
FG’s response
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed had described Bishop Kukah’s Christmas message as one that could trigger hatred and disinity which may lead to unintended consequences.
Mohammed in a statement through Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture said while religious leaders had the responsibility to speak truth to power, “such truth must not come wrapped in anger, hatred, disunity and religious disharmony.
