Bishop Kukah urges Tinubu to end insecurity, hardship
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to address the escalating insecurity and economic crisis in Nigeria.
In his 2025 Easter message titled “Mr President: Please Bring Us Down from This Cross,” Kukah described the situation in the country as one of unprecedented brutality and suffering, warning that Nigeria is “bleeding from savagery never witnessed in its history.”
He painted a grim picture of widespread kidnappings, killings, and the collapse of security, lamenting that “a dark pall of death hangs from north to south” and that almost every Nigerian has been touched by violence.
“Mr President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue,” he stated, adding that although Tinubu didn’t create the problems, he has the responsibility to stop the bleeding.
Kukah also criticized the growing cynicism among Nigerians, saying the public is losing faith in the government’s ability to protect them. “Frustration has penetrated every spectrum of our society… security agencies seem to have become spectators in the dance of death overtaking our country,” he said.
He condemned palliative measures as inadequate, urging the government to treat food security as a fundamental human right rather than relying on short-term aid.
The bishop further referenced confessions by political actors who admitted to bringing in armed groups for electoral gain, warning that the insecurity they unleashed is now threatening the nation’s foundations.
Despite the bleak outlook, Kukah encouraged Christians to remain hopeful, drawing on the resurrection of Christ as a symbol of renewal. He echoed Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Hope,” calling on Nigerians to become “pilgrims of hope” in the face of adversity.
