The leadership of the Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum has intervened in the controversy trailing the Christmas message of Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto, Hassan Kukah.
The Forum, in a statement signed by Yinka Odumakin, South West; Chief Guy Ikoku, South East; Senator Bassey Henshaw, South South; and Dr Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt said the reactions of the Presidency and the Northern Elders Forum to the message leave a lot to be desired.
The statement reads:
The leadership of the Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum, notes with very serious concern and condemnation the outbursts of the Presidency and the Northern Elders Forum over the Christmas Day Message of the reverred Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah.
The outspoken cleric who has been a beacon of truthfulness over the years, remains a foremost defender of the aspirations of millions of Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines. On this occasion, his comments have been applauded by majority of Nigerians and we all stand with him.
We want to remind the Federal Government and it’s attack dogs that in the past, they had equally welcomed the forthright views of this Man of God even it favoured them. So why attack him now when he cautions them on their divisive policies? Today, the country has become terribly divided along all kinds of lines. It is shameful and indefensible that suddenly, the Federal Government is dominated by one small ethnic group and they expect all to keep quiet like slaves. Also the wind of insecurity is now almost tsunami and even up to Mr. President’s doorstep in Katsina when he was home recently on holiday.
What we expected was for those concerned to retrace their very unhelpful steps and get back to rekindling oneness in the country. We once more can call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to restructure the country.
Finally, we remind those concerned that the voice of truth and reason, can never be suppressed successfully. Bishop Kukah remains a national icon, a hero of the masses. We therefore demand immediate apology to him for the baseless attacks.