The President has cautioned an Islamic group, the Muslim
Solidarity Forum, to be mindful of its utterances against the Catholic Bishop
of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah.
Recall that the Sokoto-based group asked
Kukah to vacate the state or tender an apology over his comments on Islam.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, the Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said though
Kukah has offended many with his anti-Buhari remarks, under the Nigerian laws,
groups or factions must not give quit notices to anyone but must tolerate
religious and ethnic differences.
Kukah, in his December 25 message, had accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of nepotism and failure to protect Nigerians. His message riled some nerves, especially in the camp of the pro-Buharists.
The cleric had said, “One Northern Imam after the other have
posted videos of lamentation on the social media asking why, with all the cards
of power in the hands of northern Muslims, everything is bursting in the seams.
How come our region has become a cesspool of blood and death? Why did President
Buhari hand over a majority of the plum jobs to Northern Muslims? Was it for
efficacy and efficiency? What was the logic? President Buhari must pause and
turn around because his policy of nepotism has been rejected by the gods.”
The acting Chairman of MSF, Prof Isa Maishanu, had in a
rather belated statement reacted to the cleric’s Christmas Message but Shehu
urged the group to uphold the country’s multi-religious principles.
He wrote, “The right for all religions to co-exist is enshrined
in this country’s Constitution. The duty of the government, more so, this
democratic government, is to ensure that the Constitution is respected. But all
must respect the rights and sensitivities of their fellow Nigerians.
“Father Kukah has greatly offended many with his
controversial remarks against the government and the person of the President,
with some even accusing him of voicing anti-Islamic rhetoric.
“On matters such as these, responsible leadership in any
society must exercise restraint.
“Knee-jerk reactions will not only cause the fraying of
enduring relationships, but also the evisceration of peaceful communities such
as Sokoto, the headquarters of the Muslim community as beacon of pluralism and
tolerance.
“The Sultanate has historically had good relations with
followers of all faiths. That is why Father Kukah was received on his arrival
in Sokoto with friendship and tolerance.
“Under our laws, groups or factions must not give quit
notices, neither should they unilaterally sanction any perceived breaches.
Where they occur, it is the courts of law that should adjudicate. Unilateral
action is not the way to go.
“Groups such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum must be seen to
share and uphold the country’s multi-religious principles. And individuals like
Father Kukah must respect the feelings of his fellow Nigerians in his private
and public utterances.”
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