By Olatunbosun Obafemi
SOKOTO — Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has issued a stirring appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging immediate and decisive action to address Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis and growing insecurity.
Delivering his 2025 Easter message titled “Mr President: Please bring us down from this cross,” Bishop Kukah painted a grim portrait of a nation engulfed by violence, despair, and social fragmentation. He described a country where citizens are routinely kidnapped, communities live in fear, and the death toll from insecurity continues to climb.
“A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south. Mr President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue,” Kukah warned.
While acknowledging that President Tinubu inherited many of the country’s challenges, the cleric emphasized that time is of the essence. He referenced past admissions by political actors who armed groups for electoral purposes, cautioning that these same elements now threaten national cohesion.
“The bandits have not only become embedded in every sphere of our lives, but they also threaten to destroy all that holds our communities together,” he said. “We now hang on the cross at the mercy of these forces of darkness.”
Kukah did not mince words in questioning the federal government’s capacity—or willingness—to confront the security crisis head-on. “Is the persistence of the insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine?” he asked pointedly.
Despite the sobering tone of his message, the bishop called on Nigerians, especially Christians, to remain hopeful in the spirit of Easter. He encouraged a renewed commitment to peace, justice, and faith, stressing that the resurrection of Christ symbolizes light amid darkness.
“We are equipped with the light of Christ to drive out the darkness that threatens to engulf our country,” Kukah concluded, calling for collective resolve in building a more just and secure Nigeria.
