THE Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, should not blame Buhari for the rising corruption in the country but blame himself as a priest and his adherents for “failing as a moral authority and guide.”
Adesina, in his characteristic, emotional defence of his principal on Friday, noted in his latest article that if Kukah was succeeding in his duty as a priest, “then his adherents should be less prone to corruption, and the leviathan should have been slain or badly wounded.”
The presidency’s spokesman was reacting to Bishop Matthew Kukah’s recent statement that President Buhari was leaving Nigeria far more vulnerable than when he came into power.
Kukah had also accused the president of nepotism and failing to fight corruption despite hefty promises made to Nigerians in 2015.
However, Adesina in his response titled “KUKAH, DON’T COOK ME NONSENSE” said the Bishop had been accused many times of being a political priest with a propensity for PDP and that was possibly the prism from which he saw things.
The presidential spokesman, insisted that his boss had stabilised Nigeria, fought corruption, and never breached any constitutional provisions in doing so.
Adesina said, “Under the camouflage of ‘speaking truth to power,’ it has become a regular thing for the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, to take potshots at President Muhammadu Buhari, and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Speaking directly to President Buhari, the cleric said: “It is sad that despite your lofty promises, you are leaving us far more vulnerable than when you came, that the corruption we thought would be fought has become a leviathan and sadly, a consequence of a government marked by nepotism. In my Christmas Message last year, I pointed out the fact that you had breached the Constitution by your failure to honour and adhere to the federal character provisions of our Constitution. The evidence is all before us all.”
“Bishop Kukah has been accused many times of being a political priest, with a propensity for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and great antipathy for the APC. That was possibly the prism from which he saw things, and, therefore, his erroneous conclusion of “more vulnerable.”
“Again, he alleged that corruption was not fought, and had become a leviathan. Yes, when corruption creeps under the robes and cassocks of even priests, they would never see it being fought. Just a fortnight ago, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was a guest at the weekly State House press briefing.
“The facts he unveiled were enough to show the yeoman’s work being done. But people like Bishop Kukah listen only to themselves and have no time for an alternative reality. So, when the monster is being assailed and being badly wounded, all they still see is the leviathan.
“And by the way, if corruption is rife in a country, is it necessarily just the fault of a President? No. It is the fault of everyone, including the people, the institutions, the family, religious leaders, political leaders, and everyone. If the Bishop was succeeding in his duty as a priest, then his adherents should be less prone to corruption, and the leviathan should have been slain or badly wounded. So, if corruption is still the monster the Bishop claims it is, then he, too, is failing as a moral authority and guide.
“Another allegation. Nepotism, which the priest did not justify. But he spoke of Federal Character, and I challenge him to bring instances of a breach. The mistake he makes is to think that all appointments in the land are subject to that constitutional provision. No. There are positions that must be filled according to the principles of balance and equity, and those that are subject to presidential prerogatives. President Buhari is a scrupulous one when it comes to obeying the Constitution, and the allegation of nepotism is always a rife one in the country. It has trailed every President, and it will most likely always be there. But we expect our priests to be more informed, particularly the highly educated ones. However, some people never see good in other segments of the country, particularly the much-vilified Fulani. Pity.
“Bishop Kukah seeks to posture as a friend of the President, whenever he visits the Presidential Villa. And that justifies his jocular future visits to Daura, to collect ‘tithes,’ after the President retires. Well, President Buhari has no enemy. As I wrote recently, he has no malicious bone in his body, and will always cheerfully welcome Kukah.
“But then, we know those who are working for the good of the country and those who are sowing hate and discord. As William Shakespeare wrote, “Deep malice makes too deep incision.” That was why Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang; Teacher, don’t teach me nonsense.
And we also ask the cook not to cook us nonsense.”
