Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has called on President Bola Tinubu to bring down the country from the cross of suffering and afflictions that have befallen our country in the last few years.
The Catholic Bishop made this call on Sunday in his Easter message for 2025.
He described the Easter period as an important event in the history of Christianity
“It is the season of the Cross, the season of Christ’s triumph over death. This triumph was marked by the blind passion of those who crucified innocence.
“I am therefore using the metaphor of the cross to draw attention to the sufferings These sufferings have been marked by a culture of brutality and savagery never witnessed in the history of our dear country. Taken together, they have placed our country outside the purveyor of human civilization”.
According to him the innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions everyday while a dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south.
He said It is impossible to find a home, a family, or a community that has not been caught in the cusp of this savagery and the country is reaching a breaking point.
Bishop Kukah said that the nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue, therefore the need for a greater sense of urgency, hastened to bring the country down from this cross of evil.
The Bishop acknowledges that while the current administration did not create this crisis, it bears the responsibility to address it. Adding that the pervasive culture of cynicism and hopelessness among citizens is a testament to the urgent need for renewed hope and effective governance.
“Now is the time to rekindle and renew that hope,” he said, emphasizing the importance of faith in overcoming adversity.
“We are in a dilemma now, and the question is simple: is the persistence of the insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine?”
“Allowing this insecurity to persist will undermine all forms of goodwill that this or any government in Nigeria espouses. We have all the ingredients to create a toxic mix of violence that can spin out of control.
He lamented on how frustration has penetrated every spectrum of the society especially as the government and its security agencies seem to have largely become spectators in the dance of death that has overtaken the country.
The bishop reminded the Christian faithfuls that the resurrection of Jesus equips Christians to face life’s challenges with confidence.
” At Easter, we must remember that the law of the Lord is written in our hearts (Rom2:15). The structural deformities, the iniquities and corruption of our country are not an excuse for us to let down our guard.
“See We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill. We are equipped with the light of Christ to drive out the darkness that threatens to engulf our country. Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator.”
