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I never said there’s no persecution of Christians in Nigeria – Kukah
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Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday dismissed reports claiming he argued that Christians in Nigeria are not facing persecution.
Kukah described the allegation as false, stating that he was surprised that, despite the clarity of his stance, some individuals were still determined to attribute such a position to him.
In a statement titled “Of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria: My response,” the bishop said the media reports misrepresented his comments.
Earlier reports had quoted him as questioning the narrative of Christian persecution, allegedly citing the high number of educated Christians and their control of a significant share of the economy.
He was quoted as saying, “If you are a Christian in Nigeria and you say you are persecuted, my question is: how? At least 80 per cent of educated Nigerians are Christians, and up to 85 per cent of the Nigerian economy is controlled by Christians. With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?”
However, clarifying his remarks, Kukah explained that he was merely calling for unity among Christians.
He emphasised that with the resources and influence available to the Christian community, the major challenge remained unity and solidarity—not the absence of persecution.
“For over a week, I have been in the news on the basis of multiple claims that I had said that there was no persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The outpouring of emotions is understandable especially against the backdrop of the inviolability of life, the extermination of which must not be undermined by any debates on numbers or intent.
“I am grateful to my colleagues at The Kukah Centre, who issued a Statement while I was caught up with a tight schedule. I nevertheless believe that is no substitute for my personal responsibility.
“First, let me say how sincerely sorry I am to be associated with representations that understandably are a source of great pain and mental anguish to so many of my brothers and sisters within the body of Christ. The outpouring of emotions suggests to me the investment of trust in me, an onus I do not take lightly.
“I am baffled that despite the clarity of my position, there appear to be determined efforts to ascribe to me a position as saying that there is no persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“So, for the record, I did not say that Christians are not persecuted in Nigeria! Addressing an audience of the Catholic Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna on November 28th, I had spoken about the challenges of bearing witness to Christ in a time of persecution. I drew lessons from history and the stories of brave men and women in Nigeria and Africa as models of witnessing in times such as these.
“ I concluded that the greatest challenge for Christians was unity and solidarity. Given the huge human and material resources that we have as Christians in Nigeria, if only we stood together, I argued, we would have no reason to be victims of persecution. Nothing here implied a denial of the fate of Christians,” the renowned cleric stated.
“Over the years, he stressed that he had spoken extensively on the theme of persecution of Christians and had argued then as now that by whatever name it is described, the bloodshed needed to end as soon as yesterday because common humanity is at stake.
The government and its security agencies, he said, have an urgent responsibility to bring the perpetrators to account, pointing out that it is their neglect of this duty or their failure to accomplish it that has detained everyone in an appearance of disagreement without difference.
“As a people, I believe we owe ourselves the collective duty to regain our humanity not as perpetual victims but as equal citizens of our land. Too many innocent souls have been lost, too much blood shed and our children and citizens are in captivity. Amidst the nadir of this pain, it is important that we focus on reclaiming the soul of our nation
“I am deeply sorry for the unnecessary distraction. These moments are too serious for us to equivocate. This is not the time for us to retreat or be distracted. This is a contest that we must win. The journey may be painful. We may falter along the way but we will only reach our destination by learning our lessons, standing up even when we stumble, and always keeping our eyes on the ultimate prize, peace for our country, justice for those injured, and reconciliation for our people.
“This is a struggle that I have committed most of my pastoral and intellectual life to. It is a struggle in which I pray that, by clinging to the old rugged cross, we can one day exchange it for a crown. So, let us all get back on the road especially as the spirit of Bethlehem beckons” he added.
Yaya Bauchi Tongo, a member of House of Representatives representing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State is dead.
Rep Tongo died in Abuja on Friday following a brief illness, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Akintude Rotimi said in a statement quoting the Gombe State Caucus of the House of Representatives.
While paying tribute to the late lawmaker, Rotimi said his death marked the end of a distinguished life devoted to public service and the advancement of his constituents, Gombe State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Rep. Tongo was a dedicated public servant, seasoned grassroots politician, and committed legislator whose life was marked by unwavering service to his people and the nation,” Rotimi said.
The deceased lawmaker served as Chairman of Funakaye Local Government Area, Special Adviser to the Government of Gombe State, and Member of the Gombe State House of Assembly before his election into House of Representatives.
He was Chairman of the Nigeria–United Arab Emirates Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Representatives.
“A respected voice within the Parliament and a passionate advocate for the welfare and development of his constituents, Hon. Tongo brought wisdom, experience, and a deep understanding of governance to legislative deliberations. His contributions to nation-building and democratic development will remain an enduring part of his legacy.
“On behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, the leadership, and the entire membership of the House, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the people of Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, and the Government and people of Gombe State on this painful loss.
“As we mourn the passing of our dear colleague, we pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgives his shortcomings, accepts his good deeds, and grants him Aljannatul Firdaus. We also pray that Allah (SWT) grants his family, loved ones, constituents, and colleagues the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Rotimi said.
He added that further details regarding parliamentary tributes and funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.
A member of the House of Representatives from Kaduna North and Chairman, Committee on Banking Regulations, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has disclosed that his father, Nasir El-Rufai’s continued detention shows that Nigeria’s democratic journey is far from complete.
Bello noted that democracy can only thrive in Nigeria when the country’s leadership is accountable.
El-Rufai has been in custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, since he was arrested at the Abuja airport earlier in the year.
The commission had arraigned him for corruption while he was governor of Kaduna State.
However, posting on X, Bello wrote: “Today, we celebrate the enduring strength of our democracy and the collective voice of the Nigerian people. Democracy thrives when leadership is accountable, citizens are empowered, and every voice is heard.
“As we commemorate this important day, we must also acknowledge that while our democracy continues to endure, the abuse of citizens’ rights remains a troubling reality.
“The true test of any democracy is not simply the conduct of elections, but its commitment to the rule of law, due process, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
“The continued unlawful detention of my father, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alongside the experiences of many other Nigerians who have faced similar violations, serves as a reminder that our democratic journey is far from complete.
“On this Democracy Day, let us recommit ourselves to building a nation where justice prevails, institutions are strengthened, and the rights of every citizen are respected and protected.”
The National Leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, amid recent crises in the party.
Dickson made this known in a statement on his official X handle, revealing that the meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was attended by Obi and other senior party leaders.
“I just received my brother, colleague, and partner in the New Nigerian Project, His Excellency Mr Peter Gregory Obi, CON, our presidential candidate, who, together with some distinguished leaders of our party, held a closed-door meeting which lasted about three hours.
“In the course of that meeting, we reviewed the activities of our party and discussed a few recent issues that have been a source of concern to all sides, and we amicably resolved all the issues.
“We have always been on the same page on the bigger picture, i.e., winning the elections for all candidates of our party and rescuing Nigeria from the misgovernance of the APC-led government. However, a few issues have arisen, and we have agreed on how to handle them moving forward.
“I want to use this opportunity again to call on all members of our party to stop the bickering and name-calling and focus on the bigger picture.
“Both His Excellency Peter Obi and I, as well as other leaders and stakeholders of our party, will continue to consult and engage with one another to address and resolve concerns, strengthen the unity and cohesion of our party, and ensure that we remain focused on our shared mission of rescuing Nigeria and building a better future for all.”
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