Kukah At 70: Jonathan, Northern Govs, Dogara Laud Bishop For Advancing Democracy

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Northern governors and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday extolled the virtues of renowned clergyman and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, on his 70th birthday.

Specifically, the governors commended the role Bishop Kukah has played in advancing Nigeria’s democracy and promoting credible, violence-free and acceptable elections as convener of the National Peace Committee headed by former head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

They also acknowledged his contributions in steering national discourse and engagement through his foundation, The Kukah Centre, even as they described Bishop Kukah as a man of God who has remained devoted to his calling as a servant in the Lord’s vineyard and the society at large.

Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in a statement conveying the governors’ message said Kukah has distinguished himself as a selfless, courageous, honest and kind clergyman who has always been driven by the passion to speak against injustice, oppression and other actions that negate principles of God and his love for humanity.

In the statement issued in Jos by his director of press and public affairs, Dr Makut Simon Macham, Lalong noted that the Northern governors acknowledge Kukah’s sincere contributions to the efforts in addressing Nigeria’s challenges in education, justice administration, poverty eradication, peaceful coexistence, youth empowerment, and national unity through his consistent advocacy at various fora.

Lalong said the passion and determination of Bishop Kukah to reach out to the youths and speak to them about their role as future leaders of the country has inspired many of them to look beyond the current challenges and work towards building a better nation.

While wishing him many more years of God’s blessings, good health and protection, Lalong said the Northern governors and Nigeria at large would continue to benefit from his wealth of knowledge, experience and wise counsel, urging him never to relent in speaking truth to power whenever the situation arises.

Also, former President Jonathan wished Bishop Kukah many years ahead, just as he urged him to continue on his Godly ordained role as the conscience of the society.

He said the proposed Kukah Centre will raise intellectuals who speak the truth to government in a non-confrontational manner for their views to be received.

“I believe that for you to gather all these people here at this time, shows how people appreciate you,” he told the cleric.

Speaking at the celebration of the 70th birthday of the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, and the fundraising event for the proposed permanent site of the Kukah Centre in Lugbe, Abuja, Jonathan noted that democracy is not about winning elections but about accommodating different views.

The former president who spoke in reference to his observations that some states and governments in the country are deviating from democratic to feudalistic styles of governance urged Nigerians to remain in the path of democracy as it is the sole and practical means of managing Nigeria’s diversity.

“The task is for us not to lower our guard. We must not lower our guard, lest the democracy we cherish today succumbs and turns into fascism tomorrow. Because there are signs moving across states and some governors that we are derailing to some hostile fascism form of government,” he stated.

Impressed by the INEC statistics which recorded 71 percent of new voter card registrants by the close of permanent voter’s card registration last July, the former leader commended young people who turned out for the registration even though they registered at the rush hour.

He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the upcoming elections to choose and select who they believe can lead them.

“Nigeria may not be where we want to be now; do not give up or lose hope or focus on the negatives. Looking back from where we are coming from the amalgamation era, we have made some form of progress. Yes, we have had setbacks, but in every setback there is a lesson to be learnt.”

“We must have a country we all believe in. Some people will tell you that Nigeria is not a nation. Yes, Nigeria is not a nation going by the technical definition of a nation, but it is not only a Nigerian that has different nationalities coming together as a people; almost all the countries in Africa are the same.

“But countries have been able to come together and have a country that all of them can live in, so what is keeping Nigeria from doing so? Until we believe that we have a country that no matter what you are, what you worship, we have equal rights, we cannot progress.”

On his part, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, felicitated with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.

Dogara in a congratulatory message issued by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, yesterday in Bauchi described Bishop Kukah as a philanthropist, leader and man of courage and a crusader for justice.

Dogara said, “On behalf of my humble self and family, I join the global community of friends, colleagues, and millions of followers, admirers and supporters alike to rejoice with and celebrate our Leader and father in the faith, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah PhD, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.

“I celebrate your life of service to God and humanity. I celebrate your numerous humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours over the years. I celebrate the courageous leadership you are providing both at the level of the church, the body of Christ and the global community at large.

“My Lord, Bishop; without any doubt, you are one of the finest and erudite scholars our generation is blessed with. Your passion for the gospel of liberation which you preach without equivocation, as James H. Cone noted – ‘is bad news to all oppressors because they have defined their ‘freedom’ in terms of slavery of others.

“You never wavered in your pursuit of a just, free, inclusive, peaceful and egalitarian society as a crusader for justice who has never shied away from speaking the truth to power in love even when it makes some people uncomfortable.”