The Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF), Sokoto, has called on the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, to vacate the seat of Caliphate or put an end to his constant statements against Islam and Muslims. Also, he was asked to apologize to the Muslim Ummah.
This demand by the Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto was made in a press statement. It was made in times that the Department of State Services (DSS) stated that there were plans by some elements in the state to cause religious intolerance. The DSS also mentioned that these elements are working with external bodies.
In his reaction to Kukah's Christmas message, the acting Chairman of MSF, Prof Isa Maishanu, said that Kukah had an aim to destroy the age-long peaceful coexistence in the state which is predominantly Muslims.
Below is an excerpt of the statement by MSF.
"In February 2020, he (Kukah) staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest, presumably, by the Boko Haram insurgents, but did not consider hundreds of Muslims, Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by the Christian militia in Taraba state in 2018."
Furthermore, the statement asked the Christian leader what he assumed would happen if the Muslims of the seat of Caliphate replied his statements which they believed was an attack on their religion.
However, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State and its National Vice Chairman (19 Northern States and Abuja), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, and Executive Director of Foundation for Justice Peace Development (FJPD), Kwamkur Samuel, has responded to the call by the MSF asking Bishop Kukah to vacate his seat.
Hayab said, "We have tolerated them so that we can continue together and build a nation of respect for others opinion. We, therefore, see this call for an apology from Bishop Kukah by this group as a show of disrespect and a display of complex attitude to abuse our tolerance spirit and our desire for a peaceful Nigeria.
"We see this group as agents of blackmail and intimidation who want to infringe on the right and freedom of expression of citizens, which our constitution guarantees."
In the same manner, Samuel said, "Those terrorizing Nigerians daily are so strong that they are rewarded almost on daily basis with ransom even in foreign currency under the supervision of authority while those crying on pages of papers like Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, due to losses, experience and excruciating pains and love for the nation, are easily identified, intimidated and vilified by the same authority that is not able to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
"I will advise this group of young and energetic Nigerians who are calling for the head of Kukah to join the families of victims of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits in Katsina, Maiduguri, Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria to get to the source and sponsors of killers of Nigerians."
Post a Comment