Ikulu Professionals condemns attacks on Bishop Kukah

Association of Ikulu Professionals (AIP), has condemned the attacks and varied responses on the Christmas homily delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah..

Speaking through a press statement, the (AIP) secretary of Dr. Paul H. Mamman said some mischief individual are bent on misinterpreting the cleric’s sermon

“While the AIP is miffed at deliberate attempts by some persons and organisations at misinterpreting the content of the cleric’s message, we are dumbfounded that some mischief makers have erroneously interpreted the Bishop’s sermon as calling for a military coup.

He said the statement linked to the coup is not only laughable but a deliberate act if misinterpretion.

“For those who are acquainted with the footprints of Bishop Kukah, the spurious attempts at linking his message to military coup is not only laughable but also a deliberate act of misinterpreting his Christmas homily.

“This is not the first time the erudite Catholic Bishop is calling out against the failings of government and appealing to citizens to embrace hope amidst the dark clouds of frightening despair. For Bishop Kukah, speaking truth to power has always been a consistent trait in his character.

The secretary says the bishop Formerly called a father stood and had fought against injustice in Nigeria

“During the military era when the sword of Damocles threatened the rights of Nigerians to express their opinions on national discourse, Father Kukah, as he was then called, stood up for truth and justice. His participation in various national panels set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo portrays him as a patriot dedicated to the enthronement of democracy and development of citizens.

There stated that the statement was timely

“Initially, the AIP did not find it expedient to issue a statement on the snide responses from certain mischievous quarters, however, we found it auspicious to state that the path upon which Bishop Kukah has trodden upon for over 44 years is enough to absolve him of all the trappings foisted by his traducers. We are pleased that, considering responses of patriotic organisations that cut across ethnic and religious divides, overwhelming Nigerians still see our Bishop as a patriotic Nigerian whose indelible footprints on the sands of time cannot be obliterated by those who disagree with his homily.

In view of the Bishop’s sermon, we are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to see the Cleric’s homily as a wake-up call on the Federal Government to tackle the manifold problems threatening our nation. We further call on President Buhari to inject a sense of urgency in the bid to tackle challenges confronting our country.

There added that the bishop’s message should be taken with a sense of urgency

“Our Bishop’s message should not attract any form of angst from any quarter but inject a sense of urgency to deal with issues that have always worked against us as a nation. We as a people are always proud of him and hereby call on those who disagree with him to note that Bishop Kukah has remained unchangeable in his commitment to the greatness of our country.

Oluchi Ihediuche