Arewa Youths Call For Bishop Kukah’s Arrest, Prosecution Over Criticism Of Buhari In Christmas Day Message
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, over his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari in his Christmas day message.
Bishop Kukah in his message, accused President Buhari of being nepotistic and of institutionalising “northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second-class status”.
According to the respected cleric, there could have been a coup or war in the country if a non-Nothern Muslim becomes a president and does a fraction of what Buhari has done.
His statement sparked varying reactions from different concerns including condemnation from Arewa Youths Consultative forum.
They described Kukah‘s statement as unguarded and open incitement to military coup and insurrection against the democratically elected government.
In a statement signed and released by its National President, Yerima Shettima, the group called on the Federal Government to place Bishop Kukah on a special watch list for this open attempt to “set the South against the North in order to destabilize our country and further complicate matters”.
The statement in part reads;
Such a reckless statement by Kukah betrays something much more sinister against both the North and the nation as a whole because Nigeria is at a stage that it requires responsible advice for attaining peace and stability, not deliberate attempt to mischievously compound our problems.
If Kukah wants to play politics, he should not do so in the pulpit and he should keep the Bishop’s office aside and choose any Nigerian political party platform to contest for President in 2023 and stop all the pretences.
The group then reminded the cleric of the rough road tread by democracy heroes to rid the nation of military dictatorship at a time when he was nowhere in sight.
It added;
We will not allow opportunists who did make any contribution to scuttle the democracy achieved through our sweat and toil and the sacrifice of our liberty.
The group urged the Federal Government to place Bishop Kukah on a special watchlist for attempting to destabilise the country by pitting the south against the north.
Shettima, in the statement, took exception to what his group described as “Kukah’s latest role in devil’s advocacy, as the north struggles to restore peace and enduring security in the region and indeed Nigeria”.
According to him, at this point, Nigeria needs responsible advice that will foster peace and stability and not comments that will compound the country’s problems.
