- There is hope, even though we’re not where we want to be! — Joy Ezeilo, SAN
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah has called on the Federal Government to develop a clear communications strategy that will serve to inspire and create timelines of expectations of results from policies.
In his Easter message where he addressed the country’s troubles, Bishop Kukah said Nigeria is reaping what it sowed yesterday adding that the military’s extensive involvement in civilian affairs as disturbing.
The eloquent and audacious Bishop urged the Federal Government to devise a robust strategy to reverse the country’s course and lead it towards national healing.
“Our leaders chose the feast rather than the fast. We are today reaping what we sowed yesterday. For over 60 years, our leaders have looked like men in a drunken stupor, staggering, stumbling, and fumbling,” Kukah expressed.
He condemned pervasive corruption and its debilitating effects on the nation, describing Nigeria as being in a state of hangover that renders it comatose.
However, the bishop remained optimistic about Nigeria’s potential for greatness, urging citizens to journey together towards a new dawn of resurrection.
“The corruption of the years of a life of immoral and sordid debauchery has spread like cancer, destroying all our vital organs. The result is a state of hangover that has left our nation comatose.
“Notwithstanding, Easter is a time to further reflect on the road not taken. It is a time to see if this Golgotha of pain can lead us to the new dawn of the resurrection. Nigeria can and Nigeria will be great again. Let us ride this tide together in hope,” he stated.
Proposing urgent measures to alleviate economic hardship and hunger, Kukah stated the need for inclusive policies to eradicate nepotism and foster patriotism.
He called for transparent recruitment methods and a clear communications strategy to inspire accountability and achieve national goals.
“The government must design a more comprehensive and wide-ranging method of recruitment that is transparent as a means of generating patriotism and reversing the ugly face of feudalism and prebendalism
“There is a need for a clear communications strategy that will serve to inspire and create timelines of expectations of results from policies.
“There is a need for clarity over questions of who, what, when, and how national set goals are to be attained and who can be held accountable,” he said.
Asserting that prevalent security situation where the military has become deeply involved in civilian affairs is concerning, Kukah said it is important for the military to maintain its professionalism and integrity while addressing the root causes of insecurity.
On her part, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, stated that Nigeria might not be where it is expected to be but that there is hope.
Ezeilo on her X handle (Former Twitter) had this to say:
“In the context of Nigeria’s current situation, Easter serves as a potent reminder that we can transition from death to life, slavery to freedom, ethnic and religious divides to unity to salvage Nigeria, and suffering to abundance. It symbolises a new beginning and a beacon of hope in these challenging times. I fervently hope and pray that all Nigerians can share this transformational experience as we strive to overcome the dire economic situations and insecurity that seem to be engulfing us.
“May all old things pass away and everything becomes new! I claim this for our dear country, Nigeria.
“New things are already showing. On Good Friday, my salary alert showed a top-up of over 100k, but I need to figure out the percentage. Waiting for FGN and ASUU to confirm it. There is hope, even though we’re not where we want to be!”
