The Presidency has hit back at Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, over the comments he made before the US Congress, insisting that there is no bias concerning appointments, religion or ethnicity in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Presidency made the rebuttal in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday.
Reacting, the Presidency described the comments of the bishop as falsehood, lamenting that he is “lying and sowing discord” among Nigerians.
It described Kukah’s comments as “unfortunate and disappointing”, saying that religious leaders who preach respect for the truth have a duty to practice it and publicly stand up for it.
According to the Presidency, the views expressed by Kukah before the US Congress were personal and not opinions held by the majority of Nigerians.
The statement read: ”There is no place in mainstream civil discourse for those who actively, negatively, and publicly label an individual ethnic group, especially before a foreign audience.
”These are not the views expressed or opinions held by the vast majority of the citizens of Nigeria.
”For all our challenges as a nation, nearly all of us seek to live together in harmony, celebrating differences, and finding a common ground as Nigerians above all.
”But people like Kukah are doing their best to sow discord and strife among Nigerians.
”More than any other set of people, leaders – in politics or religion who preach respect for truth have a duty to practice it. It is a moral and practical responsibility.
”Going by the history of the Church as is well known, it will stand up publicly for the truth.
”It is time others did the same.”
The Presidency said Kukah’s comments were a familiar “overseas political tours that opposition politicians take – visiting foreign leaders and legislators in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe”.
It stated that the likes of Kukah always put up slanted information to deceive the western audience and castigate the Nigerian government and its people.
It argued that the cabinet of the President is equally balanced between the two major religions in the country – Christianity and Islam.
The presidential spokesperson stated that the constitution does not recognise appointments based on religion or ethnicity but that President Buhari is striving hard to balance the equation.
The statement read: “There is no bias in this government when the president is northern and Muslim, the vice president southern and Christian, and the cabinet equally balanced between the two religions.
“But neither is there anything in our Constitution to state that political posts must be apportioned according to ethnicity or faith.
“It takes a warped frame of mind for a critic to believe ethnicity is of primary importance in public appointments.
“It is yet more troubling to hear a Churchman isolating one group for criticism purely on ethnic lines,” he added.
The Presidency also faulted Kukah’s position that only Christian students were largely being targeted or kidnapped by bandits in the Northern part of the country.
He said, “With due respect to the esteemed position he holds, the Bishop’s assertion that only Christian schools are being targeted by bandits or terrorists is not supported by the facts on the ground.
“It is sad to say but also true that victims of crime, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism cut across all strata of the society.
“Sad but true that Kankara students in Katsina State were kidnapped by bandits of the same Islamic faith as those they took away.
“The same may be true of those who are still holding the 134 students of the Islamic School at Tegina in Niger State.
”The nation witnessed the sad incident of the female students abducted by bandits at Jangebe in Zamfara State and the over 100 predominant.”
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