Kukah Urges Tinubu: Nigeria is Becoming a National Morgue.
From Our Correspondent
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has issued a compelling appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to rescue Nigerians from what he described as “a cross of pain, brutality, and hopelessness.”
He made this call during a powerful Easter message delivered at the church’s vigil on Saturday.
Using biblical symbolism to highlight Nigeria’s escalating crises, Kukah likened the nation’s suffering to Christ’s crucifixion, lamenting the widespread insecurity, hunger, poverty, and moral collapse plaguing the country.
“Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a vast national morgue. With a greater sense of urgency, please bring us down from this cross of evil,” Kukah declared.
While acknowledging that Tinubu did not create Nigeria’s current challenges, Kukah emphasized that leadership requires action, not excuses.
“You neither erected this cross nor caused our collective crucifixion. Yet, Nigerians have been suffering and bleeding on this cross of pain for too long,” he added.
The bishop condemned the persistent insecurity and the normalization of violence, citing rampant kidnappings, banditry, and a growing sense of helplessness among citizens. He also addressed the fallout from the removal of the fuel subsidy, stressing that it has exacerbated the country’s socio-economic situation.
“Mr. President, please bring us down from this painful cross of hunger,” he pleaded, urging the government to make food security a constitutional right for all citizens.
Kukah also referenced past confessions by political figures who admitted to hiring mercenaries as a strategy to seize power, warning that the consequences of such actions now threaten the very fabric of Nigeria.
“Are Nigerians being sacrificed like lambs to an unknown god?” he asked, posing difficult questions about the government’s capacity and willingness to protect its citizens.
Despite the severity of his message, Kukah provided a glimmer of hope. He referenced Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Hope, encouraging Nigerians to remain resilient and faithful amid adversity.
