Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu’s response to Sokoto Catholic Bishop, Matthew Kukah’s Easter message has pitched him against many Nigerians on social media.
In his message that went viral on Sunday, Bishop Kukah said that the “Buhari administration sadly has divided our people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and region, in a way that we have never witnessed in our history. This carefully choreographed agenda has made Nigerians vulnerable and ignited the most divisive form of identity consciousness among our people. Years of friendships, cultural exchange, and collaboration built over time have now come under serious pressure from stereotyping.”
He added that the government has “slid into hibernation mode” while bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists hold the citizenry to ransom.
The presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu responded in an article titled, Kukah’s virus of hate.
He said that the Catholic bishop, whom he accused of making President Buhari a “usual target”, “has been spreading hate for decades”.
According to him, instead of joining other Christians “remembering the Lord’s crucifixion on Friday, His descent on Saturday, His resurrection on Sunday, and subsequent appearance to his disciples, Bishop Matthew Kukah was playing politics”.
“This is not a time for religious leaders to play politics, or politicians to play religion. It is a time, as in Titus 3:9 to “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless”.
“Yet Bishop Kukah used his sermon purposefully to make dissensions and quarrels about the law. His accusatory list against the government revealed only his hatred for them,” he wrote.
Garba Shehu stated that Kukah failed to show how Buhari divided Nigerians.
“Still, when he accused them of division, he gave no examples: merely assertions emanating from his own mouth. His allegation of ethnic and regional divide was innuendo without proof, and he gave none.
“His list of things he claims as broken – from churches to mosques to schools and motorways – belie all those that have been built, and others built anew during this government’s time in office,” the presidential aide explained.
However, many Nigerians who reacted to Garba Shehu’s article were not impressed.
The Herald brought you some reactions from Twitter:
Read Garba Shehu's thread and compare that to what Father Kukah had preached in his Easter message and you will see who amongst the two cares about the welfare of Nigerians.
God bless Kukah for speaking truth to power always.
— Isah Mohammed (@IsahMohdII) April 19, 2022
It is a different outrage from the presidency whenever Bishop Kukah speaks out against the failure of this administration. Have you noticed?
— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) April 19, 2022
Garba Shehu cannot come out and be shouting that “Bishop Kukah hates Buhari!” He should bring facts and figures to counter Bishop Kukah’s criticism. We’re educated people and we should act as one. Use d hate line to cancel Bishop Kukah is no longer selling bcos d failure is clear
— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) April 19, 2022
The attacks on Hassan Kukah are unfair. Watching him on @ARISEtv,
I bear witness to his courage. When many hid behind their palms during the years of military dictatorship, Kukah was at the barricade with us as Gen Secretary of the Catholic Secretariat.
— Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) April 19, 2022
When the Sultan of Sokoto criticized the same Government why did you not ask him to drop his Crown and join politics like you said to Bishop Kukah? @GarShehu
— Avura Otus (@AvuraOtus) April 19, 2022
Garba Shehu still has not called Sheikh Gumi a terrorist..
But anytime Bishop Kukah criticises Buhari, he is the one treated like a Terrorist.
Well done to everyone involved Sha, 2015 was a masterclass!!
— William (@_SirWilliam_) April 19, 2022
Garba Shehu you and your President is the real virus of hate. https://t.co/81CEH5FxWp
— Tobin Henry JP (@henroyal) April 19, 2022
When people are murdered/kidnapped and are in pain due to Buhari's incompetence, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu are silent. They however go into overdrive, speaking simultaneously when Fr Mathew Kukah or any opposition points out Buhari's obvious failure
— Seyi Thomas (@seyitomas1) April 19, 2022
@NGRPresident needs to warn @GarShehu , that Christians are tolerant doesn't make us fools. Can Garba Shehu try this crap with a Sheik? Can he refer to a sheik as 'For a man'. Bishop Kukah is a Catholic Priest and his office must be respected. What is all these?
— Ayekooto (@thebardogbamola) April 19, 2022
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Bishop Kukah didn't fight successive military governments for Garba Shehu to insult him.
Some things are quite shocking.
— Everest (@novieverest) April 19, 2022