Coup Remark: Muslim Forum Asks Bishop Kukah To Leave Sokoto

The Muslim Solidarity Forum has threatened to evict Mathew Kukah, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Sokoto, from the state over a “malicious comments” against Muslim faithfuls.

The forum’s threat was sequel to Kukah’s Christmas message where he said a non-northern Muslim president can’t get away with a fraction of what Nigerians overlook under the present administration, he said such president would have been ousted through coup.

Ekohotblog also reported that Kukah accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism, saying his government has the trappings of northern hegemony as other tribes have been relegated to second class citizen.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the forum through Isa Maishanu, its acting chairman, described Kukah’s statements as callous and senseless.

He opined that such comment was capable of corroding the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the state.

The forum averred that Kukah, who leaves at the very heart of the the Sokoto caliphate should not make such reckless assertion, noting that Kukah’s reference to the president’s religion was an attack on all Muslims.

“Our intention at Muslim Solidarity Forum is not to hold brief for the President, as he has those who are paid to do that; instead, our concern is the image and reputation of Muslims, which Mr Kukah finds pleasure in attacking without an iota of caution, and by referring to him [the president] as a Muslim, that automatically brings all Muslims [into] the issue,” Maishanu said.

“The Bishop has a penchant for speaking in parables and innuendos. His reference to a people who possess ‘a pool of violence to draw from’ no doubt is a reference to those he has always characterised with violence – the Muslims. This is a serious provocation.

The forum excoriated Kukah over his insinuation that the ubiquitous insecurity and widespread killings was part of an elaborate sinister plan and “religious design”.

“A grand religious design! Religious? Who are the victims of the killings? What religion do they profess? Is it not a fact that over 90 per cent of those being killed are Muslims? Who is behind the so-called design?

The former noted that “callous statements” are becoming the hallmark Kukah, an action the forum said was at variance with someone who claimed to be secretary to the National Peace Committee and a member of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

“As such, we call on Kukah to immediately stop his malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims and tender unreserved apology to the Muslim Ummah or else quickly and quietly leave the seat of the Caliphate, as he is trying to break the age-long peaceful coexistence between the predominantly Muslim population and their Christian guests.”