From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
President, North Central Muslim Peace Initiative, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has charged his fellow Muslims to restrain in the inflammatory comments over the Christmas message Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah gave recently that generated several attacks on his person.
The group said the issues became unnecessarily over flogged by a section of people who viewed Kukah’s address as an attack on the presidency and President Muhammadu Buhari.
It would be recalled that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not lived to the yearnings of Nigerians, considering his campaign promises during electioneering.
Speaking with journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Zazzaga said Bishop Kukah have been known for speaking on the ills in the nation. He stressed that the attacks on the clergy over his observations on the administration of Buhari was an opinion which he has the right to access the government as a citizen of Nigeria.
He also said, it was wrong for any individual or group of persons to give the said message an ethno-religious connotation because it has the tendency to trigger violence in the country.
The President of the group condemned the ultimatum given to Kukah by a group in Sokoto to apologise or leave the state and the several reactions that followed the ultimatum in the social media and several quarters, saying that such happenings is not healthy for the nation and can divide the citizenry than unite them.
Alhaji Zazzaga said it is the authorities in the administration of President Buhari that should determine if a message/content can be classified as hate speech or otherwise and not a group of persons.
He said several persons irrespective of their religious or ethnic background have made comment in the interest of the nation, but that he didn’t know why Kukah’s remarks were generating unnecessary controversy.
He charged people in the position of authority to establish and maintain cordial relationship with clergy men and constructive critics like Bishop Kukah, across all religions, so that they can keep sharing ideas and getting good counsel where necessary.
According to him, the government should endeavour to always meet the needs and aspiration of the citizenry, saying that when there is good governance, people will be happy and criticisms will reduce to the barest minimum.
He urged youths to engage themselves in meaningful ventures and government activities, rather than exchanging explosive remarks over a clergyman’s message that is capable of causing chaos, mistrust and deep seated hatred.
