Elder statesman and chieftain of the All Elder statesman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Frank Kokori, has warned that the country would soon be reduced to zero should anything happen to Catholic bishop Matthew Kukah who has been receiving threats by Islamic groups and clerics in the North over his Christmas criticism of the Buhari administration.
Kokori, who made the call in a chat with Tribune Online, said the secretary-general of JNI, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, PhD, should be called to order for treacherously misinterpreting Kukah's message with the aim of inciting Muslims against the cleric.
“There was no portion where Bishop Kukah abused Islam or Muslims in his Christmas homily," Kokori said, adding that "Aliyu is an Islamic fundamentalist and should be treated as such."
“Aliyu should not drag Nigeria into his parochial ideology and if he’s worth his PhD degree, he should know that Bishop Kukah never attacked Islam or Muslims.
“Buhari and Tambuwal should rein on Aliyu not to create a religious war in the country. We’ve passed that stage. Religious war will bring the country to a zero level.
“It’s treacherous for JNI to misinterpret Bishop Kuku’s obvious message. There’s nothing anti-Islam or anti-Muslim in what Kukah said. Aliyu should desist from religious bigotry,” he said.
Although it is now 20 days since Kukah's sermon became the subject of fire and fury in the country, a recent video by a Sokoto based Islamic cleric, Abubakar Malami, threatening to crucify Kukah for his consistent attack on Islam and the Buhari administration, shows clearly, that the issue is far from over.
In the viral video, Malami, during a sermon, said if Kukah continues challenging the government, the bishop will be crucified and there will be no one to stop it.
The cleric, who spoke in Hausa, said, "Matthew Hassan Kukah is already cursed by Allah. Therefore, if Kukah challenges the government, he will be crucified. We will not listen to anybody when we are crucifying him, not the government, not even the Sultan of Sokoto."
He added, “Responsibly, Christmas homilies should come with messages of hope, unity, mercy, forgiveness of the Supreme Being and resilience through prayers, especially in this trying time.
“How can the Muslims continue to be hospitable to the one who proves to be ingrate many times over?
“How can the Muslims be comfortable in associating with a bitterly vindictive person disguised in the garb of religious clergy?
“Muslims in Nigeria cannot be charged and be held responsible or accountable for the actions or inactions of government just because it is headed by a Muslim.”