Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, on Monday night, denied calling for a coup in his Christmas message on the 25th of December.
The cleric at a press conference with selected newsmen held at St Bakhita Secretariat in Sokoto called on Nigerians to understand his message rather than relying on different lies attached to his name.
Bishop Kukah further stated that his message on Christmas day was based on his love for the country and has no political or ulterior motive.
“I am pained and very sad that my emergency critics never see that many innocent lives are being lost on a daily basis. The loss of lives in the last ten years, even before the advent of this administration, calls for concern.”
“The reactions are a reflection of every citizen that make up Nigeria. It is sad that when you drop something in Nigeria, everybody goes back to their enclave and abandon the larger picture. I am someone who never takes offence to what people say about me.”
“What I said was my opinion based on evidence and what has happened in Nigeria, and if you looked into the records, there is evidence that justifies that statement, and if anyone thinks I am wrong, they should come out with a superior position.”
“It is unfair for a journalist or news medium to report that I called for a coup while expressing my personal view about Nigeria.”
The cleric while reacting to the call to join politics, said if he would join the game of politics it would have been during the time of late Aminu Kano and not now.
“I have no plan and will never play partisan politics for any reason. Those who link my message to partisan politics are only playing to the gallery.”
“Take, for instance, brilliant Nigerian youths making comments about Chelsea or Arsenal and have never been to England, does that make them players of such club sides?”
“So, why will someone think because Bishop Kukah is speaking, therefore, he is a politician? People who make this argument are totally ignorant of elementary politics and ignorant of the role of a Priest.”
“The truth is that a lot of us have not seen a priest saying what I am saying. The truth of the matter is, we are all in politics, but party politics for me, no. I am not a member of any political party and I cannot be. If it comes to voting, I do my right.”
“Whatever I said can please or displease anyone, but that is my own opinion and doesn’t stop others from saying their own opinion. If you think my motive is wrong, say yours.”
“I have no problem with Muslims, Christians, or any other religion but what I don’t like is when someone is using a religious issue to play politics, it is wrong.”
Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has submitted that the Catholic Arc. Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Kukah should be arrested for statements capable of inciting violence.
The AYCF in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, on Monday said Kukah’s statement is capable of destabilizing Nigeria and shouldn’t be treated with mild hands.