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I never knew Fani-Kayode, others were in EFCC custody when I visited – Bishop Kukah

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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has said that his visit to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which saw him pray for recently released detainees – Reuben Abati, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Musilliu Obanikoro – was not planned.

Kukah had visited the custody of the EFCC, in Abuja, where he prayed for the trio.

Kukah explained that he was on a visit to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to invite him for an event when he decided to pray with some detainees not knowing the prominent Nigerians were there.

“I am not sure of what to say. I really did not imagine that I would be talking about this but since it is now public, let me briefly explain as best as I can,” he told Punch.

“Yes, I went to the EFCC to visit the acting chairman, to invite him for an event with the Kukah Centre. As I got up to leave, I told him I needed to do my spiritual duties and then requested to see the detainees.

“I had no idea where the location of the facility was, nor did I even know who was there. I was out of the country when I heard my friend, Reuben Abati, had been held but I did not know where. I just said I wanted to greet the detainees, whoever they might be.

“Mr. (Ibrahim) Magu then decided to accompany me and Abati was the first person I met as we entered the place. There were about seven or so other young men, none of whom I recognised but I greeted and shook hands with them.

“As I greeted them, Mr. Magu decided to show me their toilet facilities, assuring me that they were up to the standard.

“Abati, who was beside me, answered in the affirmative and I went on to see the showers, which looked quite neat. I was told that (Musiliu) Obanikoro and (Femi) Fani-Kayode were there too but that they were in the clinic. Mr. Magu took me there and we met both of them having a meal.

“They were glad and obviously surprised to see me. We chatted and then, I tried to encourage them, reminding them to trust in God’s will. After that, the four of us prayed together. I blessed them and left.

“As I bade goodbye to Mr. Magu, a young man stepped up to me to ask about my visit. I spoke to him but had no idea it would be news.

“Nonetheless, there is nothing that I regretted saying to him. I had no idea that it would become a media event till someone forwarded the news item to me later that evening.

“It was not meant to be a media event, and I was pleased with Mr. Magu’s courtesy towards me. Trust Nigerians. This has elicited all kinds of reactions, but I am glad even about the publicity that has followed my visit. My conscience is my companion, not the eyes of the public.

“I just call on my fellow Nigerians to know that we all share a common humanity and that there is a distinction between sin and the sinner, and that while people are still under investigation, we must ensure that their integrity is intact until the courts have proven their cases against them. It could be any of us tomorrow.”

Father Kukah visits FFK, Obanikoro & Abati in EFCC cells.

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Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Father Matthew Hassan Kukah has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the state of its facilities in Abuja, which he described as ‘clean and orderly”.

He made the remark Monday during an unscheduled visit to the Commission’s detention facility and clinic, where he felicitated with some of the inmates which included former ministers, Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and a former Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati.

The revered priest, who was conducted round the facilities by the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, expressed delight that the detainees appeared in high spirits despite the discomfort of temporary restriction. He urged them not to be downcast and to see their current travail as divine.

Kukah who prayed for the inmates before his departure, summed up his visit thus: “I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati; and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful.

“I was also happy with the humility of the acting Chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees. This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kinds of things personal. I am happy I came.

“We are all staff of EFCC to the extent that we want a better country and we are doing what needs to be done. We’ll continue praying that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of.

“This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption,” Kukah said.

Also speaking, Magu assured the inmates that their incarceration was not personal, stressing that “This is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” he said.

“Northern Muslim Elites Are Hypocrites, They Laid Foundation For Boko Haram” – Bishop Kukah

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Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has accused some northern Islamic elites of indirectly sponsoring the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking on ‘the Muslim agenda for Nigeria: challenges of development and good governance’ at a conference organised by the Islamic Welfare Foundation at the Fountain University, Osogbo, Kukah said the fresh agitation for an Islamic state by Boko Haram could be traced to the promise made by northern leaders to ensure the total implementation of Sharia law.
He said, “A hypocritical elite continues to believe that it can claim the benefits of democracy but use it only to consolidate its hold on power. This is what has laid the foundation for what is now Boko

Haram.

“We must locate the current crisis of Boko Haram within the context of the inability of the northern Muslim elite to live by their own dubious creed of being Muslims. They preached Sharia Law but only for the poor. They preach a religion that encourages education, yet their own people are held in the bondage of ignorance.
“They did not wish to live by the same standards, so they decided to live their own Islam in the capitals of the world away from the prying eyes of their own people. Boko Haram began as a revolt against this mendacity, subterfuge and hypocrisy.”
“Now, I hear Muslims in northern Nigeria hiding under the cover of the facts by saying: ‘These Boko Haram people are not Muslims. They do not represent us’. Well, first, they are your own children. You must take responsibility for what has made them what they are today and to the rest of society.
“They claim they have been inspired by the Quran and no other holy book. They say they want to build an Islamic state. So, they are Muslims. After all, from the debates of the Constituent Assemblies of 1979, 1988, and 1995 and beyond, did their fathers and grandfathers not stage walkouts, demanding Sharia Law?
“The promise to institute Sharia has become the most potent tool for political mobilisation and organisation. Till date, the tactics may have changed, but the essence has not. Rather than face the tough questions of how and why over 15 million children in the northern states are on the streets; how and why the northern states are falling behind on almost every index of development, the northern Muslim elite continues to live for just the moment, with no plans for tomorrow.
“Should we pretend that a society that allows the forced marriages of its young daughters could frown on the idea of a group kidnapping and forcing young girls into sexual slavery? Islam must have an honest look at the mirror and have an internal discussion”, he stated.
The Catholic cleric urged northern leaders to stop pretending as if they did not know the root cause of Boko Haram.
He said they should ask themselves why Boko Haram was ‘headquartered’ in the North and not in other zones of the country.
“It is my considered view that northern Islam has to confront the realities of taking its religion into the modern world of democracy seriously. Muslims in northern Nigeria cannot accept democracy and reject the inclusive nature of its philosophy as it is the case today”, he added.

Source – Dailypostng.com

Buhari, Kukah Meet At Aso Rock

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met briefly with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Kukah, who was part of the National Peace Committee delegation that visited the President earlier this month, is believed to be against the government’s move to probe corrupt ex-public officials.

He resisted attempts by State House correspondents to question him on mission to the seat of power.

Kukah, who was almost running from the President’s office to the Council Chamber area, simply told reporter “I have a plane to catch by now”

Credit: dailytimes

#Pausibility: An Altar Call For Fr. Kukah.

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Dear Sir,

Calvary greetings to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Although I have not written you letters in private that you refused to respond to, getting through to you through this medium is a matter of choice; a choice aimed at correcting the many banalities flying around about your most esteemed office.

Fr Kukah
I fell in love with your classic elocution and outspokenness when I was in my late teens during the Oputa Panel. You sat as the secretary of that Reconciliation Panel. Now I am in my mind 30s.

Last week I had wanted to write this same note to you but somehow I (voluntarily) invoked a Writer’s block because I was still doubtful of the identity of the man shown on national TV as being the Father Kukah I used to know. I even wrote on my Facebook page: If every other member of the Peace Committee would try to talk President Buhari out of his anti-corruption crusade, definitely Father Kukah would not be one of them.

At another time, I had thought of seeking some exorcists to help conjure the ‘unfamiliar’ spirit that was taking over your body, causing you to make those statements I heard from you, because my Kukah would not be a confused spokesperson for a Committee that beatifies grand larceny against the Nigerian state, especially the masses. He would ordinarily fight the cause of the commoners with the last pint of his blood albeit his own living is bought and paid for by droppings from the Vatican.

Impulsively I was disappointed when it dawned on me that it is my dear Kukah and no one else; my Kukah had joined the elders that have altered the altar of God. I really wanted to write on how anyone may have tremendously benefited from such grand larceny to warrant his/her open endorsement of such crime against humanity as a whole.

Sir, I went through a series of self-mortification from which the confidence I have to send this note in the long run sprouted. I had to ask myself why I was still arrogating a dint of conviction of infallibility to some systems and some people. I am sure yourself heard the ROBUST explanation of the 78million naira website: nothing more disheartening your ‘original’ self would say, just as I know your ‘original’ self would have joined many Nigerians in asking if Madam Diezani would have been ‘bedridden’ today had her former boss continued his stay in Aso Rock. But on a closer look, I found out that truly there is no one like Jesus. He is the only one that could walk through the Temple unblemished. This recent realization of mine didn’t just come that easily.

There is a common saying in Christendom: What Would Jesus Do? He would have called out to any ‘deviant’, opened His arms wide in Love so that no sheep would be lost; but He would not ask God to grant a Triumphal Entry to Lucifer because he is a great singer.

We all have our peculiar inadequacies and these our human weaknesses can manifest themselves at anytime, anywhere if not checked (many take epicureanism as the ultimate goal of life). It just so happened that yours recently came out on national television which put you in the same category as any Orubebe of this world. Some people said it happened that way because for some time now, you have been rolling with one empty CAN leader (please read: https://pausibility.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/pausibility-parable-of-the-crucifix-adebayo-coker/  )  They are syllogizing with the sheep and the dog tale. (I hope you have not met any Mr. Halliburton neither was your cassock borrowed on any trip to South Africa recently?). I’ve read so many other tales some of which I am sure could not have escaped your eyes and ears, but I will urge you sir, not to attune yourself to such medleys.

Some people are waiting for some I-am-sorry notes from you before they can even touch you with a very long meter pole at all. Some have even given you a leper-treat by outright ostracization. To tender an apology, I am sure, is never an easy task just as it wasn’t easy for the Oba that threatened immersion during the last election because in this part of the world; eyin agba re san ju oju agba lo. I understand that plight and I wouldn’t want to yoke you with such. But one step that I will not encourage you to miss is the next altar call in your church. Even if you are the one that made that call, I will implore you to join in, humble yourself before the Lord your Creator and beg for His forgiveness. You may as well do it in your privacy: God seeks genuine repentance of heart. Restitution is very good as well, as it brings complete peace of mind to the seeker; it is best done when you return ALL you have ‘taken'(crookedly or otherwise). “The Lord hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner”. Let me add, Nigerians hath no pleasure in the death of a looter. There is great joy and fulfillment in our land for every looter that returns our money.

Please turn away from this path you are treading. It leads nowhere but…

Thank you sir.

Yours faithfully,

Adebayo Coker

Jonathan Did Not Lobby Our Committee To Stop Buhari’s Probe- Kukah

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The National Peace Committee on Tuesday dismissed reports that it was lobbied by former President Goodluck Jonathan to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from probing his administration.
Mathew Kukah, a member of the committee chaired by former Military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, dismissed the report while answering questions from State House correspondents after the committee’s closed-door meeting with Mr. Buhari in Abuja.

He said though everybody is free to contact the committee to intervene in promoting peaceful coexistence in the society, the former president never talked to the committee for any form of intervention.

“Anybody is free to come to our committee, but President Jonathan never by telephone or by any other means sought to see the committee.

“We went to see him, but that was after we had already seen members of the political parties; we saw a few members of the civil society; we planned to see the speaker because we couldn’t see him yesterday.

“So this was a planned series of intervention essentially just to hear out everybody and I think the good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation.

“We are committed to ensuring that the gains and the blessings God has given us come to fruition.

“So, it was a very wonderful conversation that we had”.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Vatican Appoints Kukah Member Of King Abdulaziz Inter-Religious Dialogue Centre In Vienna

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The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has been appointed a member of the Abdullahi Ibn Abdulaziz International Council for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue Advisory Board with official headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

A statement signed by the director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Fr. Onuh Ladi Sixtus, made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, said by the appointment, Bishop Kukah will represent Africa and serve along with other Catholic Bishops representing Asia, Europe, Middle East and the United States of America as the official Vatican representatives in the council.

The council is made up of members from the various religious traditions of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, among others.

The statement added that the role of the advisory forum is to support the centre in achieving its vision and mission anchored on the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

‘’The forum believes that these equal and inalienable rights are the foundation for freedom, justice and peace in the world,’’ it said.

Responding to his appointment, Kukah expressed gratitude to the Holy See, stating that the appointment was coming at a period of great trials and opportunities for dialogue for Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

He was further quoted as saying that he believes that this initiative is a wake-up call for both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to take up the challenge of genuine, truthful dialogue for the development of our nation.

The Mandate of the council is to promote the use of dialogue globally to prevent and resolve conflict, to enhance understanding and cooperation with structures designed to foster dialogue among people of different faiths and cultures to bridge animosities, reduce fear and instill mutual respect.

The council is made up of three founding states; Saudi Arabia, Spain and Austria, with the Holy See serving as a founding observer. The appointment to the council is for a period of four years.

Recall that Bishop Kukah is a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City and chairman of both the Committees for Dialogue for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa, RECOWA

Soldiers Must Give Civilians The Chance To Rule – Kukah

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Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rev. Mathew Kukah, has commended the military for allowing the nation’s democracy to go grow.

He made the commendation on Friday in Abuja at the presentation and official launching of a book entitled “Destiny Calling My Name’’ the biography of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

The book was written by Prince Dotun Oyelade.

Kukah, who chaired the occasion, described the current transition from one government to another as `a great moment’ for the country.

He said: “This is a great moment for Nigeria’s democracy; we have made progress in our country, the military is truly subordinate to civilian administration at this moment.

“Nigeria is indeed truly in democracy and if you were ever in doubt look no further,

“I believe that most Nigerians must be very pleased that when it mattered, our military displayed a high sense of responsibility”.

Kukah commended Badeh for assuring Nigerians of the professionalism and democratic credentials of the military.

He however urged serving and retired military generals to stay away from the politics of the country.

He said that the military had taken away several years of the nation’s democracy and should allow civilians to grow the country’s democracy.

He said: “You know that the military has already taken away most of our years in this democracy, and as you have seen, they are still not yet through with us.

“After General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari, how many more generals do you want to have as Presidents? Will civilians grow this democracy or will it be the duty of soldiers?

“My people, we must make progress and our democracy will grow. This is not anti-military rally but please soldiers, retired and serving, give us civilians the chance to rule.

“Let those soldiers who have retired enjoy the benefit of their retirement and let the soldiers who are serving remain in the military and do very well what they set out to do when they joined the military”.

Kukah said the book was a story of what God could do and traced Badeh’s journey from a village school through the secondary school to Defence Academy to his current position.

The Bishop commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the courage to accept defeat in the last elections.

The Guest of Honour, Prof. Jerry Gana, who commended Jonathan for his political maturity, said the president’s acceptance of defeat saved Nigeria from avoidable crisis.

He commended Badeh for the success made so far by the military in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

In his remark, the CDS said he was fulfilled having served for many years in the military.

(NAN)