Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has urged Nigerians to renew their commitment towards self-examination and repentance, for God to do great things for the nation.
To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he enjoined him to base his Renewed Hope Agenda on a solid foundation of faith and hope for the restoration of glory for our country.
The fiery cleric in his Christmas message titled, “Time to Reclaim Nigeria’s Greatness” also admonished that, Nigeria’s problems will not be resolved by palliatives as, the problems are deep and structural.
According to him, happiness and joy mean different things while, happiness is spontaneous, fleeting, momentary, ephemeral, short-lived and passing, often marked by open gesticulation, joy on the other hand is very deep, reflective, solemn, awe-inspiring, sacrificial, meditative and often impossible to put into words.
Bishop Kukah further remarked that, “now, you have what you prayed for, what you dreamt of, what you longed for. For the better part of over twenty years, you have plotted to be our President. For years, you campaigned for a new Nigeria through restructuring or overhauling the defective machinery of the Nigerian state.
“For years, you fought the military and other forms of dictatorships. For years, you sought to create an egalitarian society. For years, you sought a just society. For years you have built networks with individuals, Now is harvesting time. You are on the driving seat now. Under your watch, Nigeria must turn the corner.
“Under your watch, we must end the ugly instrumentalization of religious, ethnic or regional identities. You have had enough time to think of the answers to many questions that are crying for answers.
“We have seen the first faltering steps of policy decisions which have elicited a mixture of controversy, anxiety and praise. This is to be expected. You have promised us a Renewed Hope Agenda, but know that hope has worn thin in our dear nation. Nigerians have almost lost hope in the fact that a government can really and truly care for them.
“We also, have seen some renewed hope in your effort to run an inclusive government. We want an end to partisanship. The problems of Nigeria are deep seated and they are based on a culture of corruption that has become the foundation stone of governance. This evil structure has to be dismantled.
“Mr President the killings of Nigerians by whatever name must end and end now. These senseless killings, abductions, extortions and kidnappings have to end and the sacredness and sanctity of human life restored.
“Blasphemy laws have no place in a democracy. We are not in a theocracy. Those who take life by whatever means must be fished out and punished. A culture of compensation to victims must be institutionalized and states must take full responsibility while criminals or those who hide them are fished out. We cannot go on this way.
“You must rid the public service of criminals who have turned the opportunity to serve into an ignoble enterprise. This surgery must happen if you are to succeed in any of your dreams of delivering much needed services to our people,” Bishop Kukah stated.