The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, used his Easter message on Sunday to urge President‑elect Bola Tinubu to confront nepotism and religious bias before embarking on any projects. His remarks come at a time when Nigeria faces a host of pressing social, economic, and political challenges—from widespread corruption and inequality to persistent ethnic and religious tensions. The bishop warned that the misuse of power by the political class creates conditions for violence in every election, describing Nigerian politics as a clash between right and wrong, justice and injustice, love and pain. “Every election brings more frustration and anger, and the victims turn on themselves,” he said. “Citizens struggle to use their votes to choose those they can trust, but the violent insist on taking power by the means they know best. It is therefore a mistake to think that violence occurs because Nigerians do not love themselves due to differences in ethnicity or religion.”
While the country prepares for a new administration, Bishop Kukah emphasized the need for Tinubu to address the nation’s core issues. He expressed hope that the next government will recognize that Nigeria’s most urgent task is not merely the construction of physical infrastructure, but the establishment of a strong foundation of social justice, equality, and respect for human rights. “I am hopeful that you will appreciate that the most urgent task facing our nation is not infrastructure or the usual cheap talk about dividends of democracy. These are important, but first, keep us alive because only the living can enjoy infrastructure,” he said. “For now, the most urgent mission is to start a psychological journey of making Nigerians feel whole again, to create a large tent of opportunity and hope for us all, to expand the frontiers of our collective freedom, to cut off the chains of ethnicity and religious bigotry, and to help us recover from the feeling of collective rape by those who imported the men of darkness that destroyed our country. We must exorcise the ghost of nepotism and religious bigotry.”
The bishop also commended former President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) for acknowledging that his criticisms of the current administration stemmed from a desire to see Nigeria achieve its dreams. “I commend you, Buhari, for knowing that none of this was done out of malice but that we want the best for our country,” Bishop Kukah said. “May God guide you in retirement while we all embark on the challenge of reclaiming the country we knew before you came.”
Kukah highlighted the critical role of the judiciary in shaping Nigeria’s future, urging judges to act with conscience and divine guidance. “You face difficult challenges ahead and you are mortals. The future of our country hangs on your deliberations. I will not judge you; I can only pray that God gives you grace. It will be up to you to decide how you use that gift, which no amount of influence or power can buy,” he warned. He lamented that sacred courts have been invaded by the political class, damaging their reputation as the last hope for citizens. “Nigerians are looking to you to reclaim their trust as interpreters of the spirit of our laws. The future of our country is in your hands. You have only your conscience and your God to answer to when you listen to the claims and counterclaims of Nigerian lawyers and decide the nation’s destiny. We pray that God gives you the wisdom to see what is right and the strength of character to stand by the truth. You have no obligation to please anyone. Our future depends on how you arrive at your much‑awaited judgment.”
Addressing Nigerian youths, the bishop saluted their energy and courage, noting that their cross‑party engagement has changed the contours of politics. “Things will never be the same again,” he said. “You must look at the mistakes of the past and avoid them. Your actions today will shape tomorrow. Learn the rules of good sportsmanship, know your roles, know when to fight, what to fight for, and when to walk away so you can embrace other fights.”
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