Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has dismissed claims made by some Nigerians that his Christmas day message was a call for a coup to overthrow the Buhari-led administration.
Kukah in his Christmas day message said that Nigeria would have suffered a military coup or be thrown into a war if a non-northern Muslim president was in power and has done a fraction of what Buhari has done since assuming office in 2015. Kukah accused President Buhari of nepotism and others.
The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum has since called for his arrest and prosecution. According to them, the clergyman was calling for a coup against the Buhari administration.
At a press conference held today December 29, Bishop Kukah stated that he never called for a coup. In his words;
Kukah dismissed calls for him join politics to effect the changes he so desires to see in
”I have no plan and will never play partisan politics for any reason. Those who link my message to partisan politics are only playing to the gallery.
Take, for instance, brilliant Nigerian youths making comments about Chelsea or Arsenal and have never been to England, does that make them players of such club sides?
So, why will someone think because Bishop Kukah is speaking therefore he is a politician? People who make this argument are totally ignorant of elementary politics and ignorant of the role of a Priest.
The truth is that a lot of us have not seen a priest saying what I am saying. The truth of the matter is, we are all in politics, but party politics for me, no. I am not a member of any political party and I cannot be. If it comes to voting, I do my right.
Whatever I said can please or displease anyone, but that is my own opinion and doesn’t stop others from saying their own opinion. If you think my motive is wrong, say yours.
I have no problem with Muslims, Christians, or any other religion but what I don’t like is when someone is using a religious issue to play politics, it is wrong.”he said