The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 19 Northern states
and Abuja has said twisting the recent statement of the Catholic
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Matthew Kukah, is injurious to
nation building.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
This was contained in a statement issued by the Vice Chairman of
the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Reverend John John Hayab, in
Kaduna on Monday.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The statement noted that “we read with great shock attempts to
further divide the nation by the Presidency, the leadership of
MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux
of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.
“Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed
by the President of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, that Bishop
Kukah had ‘referred to Islam as a violent religion’ and ‘calls for
a coup.’
“That such a statement comes from Professor Akintola is not only
laughable, but also misleading and tissue of lies. Records show
MURIC’s leadership is often careless with assertions and many times
acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious
one.
“To this end, CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore,
condemn in its entirety the misleading and inciting statements of
MURIC and its likes calling on the international as well as the
local community to particularly counsel Professor Akintola of MURIC
to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of
crisis.
“Reading through Bishop Kukah’s “A Nation In Search of
Vindication” CAN is unable to find any expression suggesting an
affront to Islam or a call for a coup.
“Sadly, MURIC aims to incite citizens against one another along
the lines of faith instead of denouncing the insecurity witnessed
across the country which is the point Bishop Kukah’s message.
“From the east to the south, west and all over the north,
travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged
from their homes for ransom.
“Our memory is fresh with the gruesome killings of 76 farmers in
Borno State in early December 2020 whose crime was simply being
farmers looking for a source of livelihoods for their families.
“What was MURIC’s statement at the time of that national
tragedy? How about the Kankara boys kidnap and the excruciating
pains the kids, their parents and school were thrown in?
“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja did not read a statement from
MURIC and their likes. Now from the blues as Bishop Kukah talked
the truth to power, we read unscrupulous statements aimed at
painting black a message that was clear and concise alerting the
government of its failure on the security of lives anf property of
Nigerians.
“Given the current happenings in Nigeria with kidnapping,
banditry, horrible atrocities committed against hapless citizens,
Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to
the awful condition that we are in as Bishop Kukah has rightly
done.
“For those castigating the cleric, we would call them by name –
they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from
their primordial views.
“It is time for the Presidency, MURIC, and misinformed
individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria
under Buhari has strayed from the path and vision that the
independence of this great country was fought for and won.
“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of
inclusion for all sundry, defending the citizens from harm,
bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and
villages that we could attain greatness together.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 19 Northern states
and Abuja has said twisting the recent statement of the Catholic
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Matthew Kukah, is injurious to
nation building.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Vice Chairman of
the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Reverend John John Hayab, in
Kaduna on Monday.
The statement noted that “we read with great shock attempts to
further divide the nation by the Presidency, the leadership of
MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux
of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.
“Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed
by the President of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, that Bishop
Kukah had ‘referred to Islam as a violent religion’ and ‘calls for
a coup.’
“That such a statement comes from Professor Akintola is not only
laughable, but also misleading and tissue of lies. Records show
MURIC’s leadership is often careless with assertions and many times
acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious
one.
“To this end, CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore,
condemn in its entirety the misleading and inciting statements of
MURIC and its likes calling on the international as well as the
local community to particularly counsel Professor Akintola of MURIC
to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of
crisis.
“Reading through Bishop Kukah’s “A Nation In Search of
Vindication” CAN is unable to find any expression suggesting an
affront to Islam or a call for a coup.
“Sadly, MURIC aims to incite citizens against one another along
the lines of faith instead of denouncing the insecurity witnessed
across the country which is the point Bishop Kukah’s message.
“From the east to the south, west and all over the north,
travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged
from their homes for ransom.
“Our memory is fresh with the gruesome killings of 76 farmers in
Borno State in early December 2020 whose crime was simply being
farmers looking for a source of livelihoods for their families.
“What was MURIC’s statement at the time of that national
tragedy? How about the Kankara boys kidnap and the excruciating
pains the kids, their parents and school were thrown in?
“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja did not read a statement from
MURIC and their likes. Now from the blues as Bishop Kukah talked
the truth to power, we read unscrupulous statements aimed at
painting black a message that was clear and concise alerting the
government of its failure on the security of lives anf property of
Nigerians.
“Given the current happenings in Nigeria with kidnapping,
banditry, horrible atrocities committed against hapless citizens,
Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to
the awful condition that we are in as Bishop Kukah has rightly
done.
“For those castigating the cleric, we would call them by name –
they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from
their primordial views.
“It is time for the Presidency, MURIC, and misinformed
individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria
under Buhari has strayed from the path and vision that the
independence of this great country was fought for and won.
“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of
inclusion for all sundry, defending the citizens from harm,
bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and
villages that we could attain greatness together.”