Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Revd. Matthew Hassan Kukah has described Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as a poor representation of the Nigerian youth.
The respected cleric said this as a guest on ‘Sunrise Daily’, a popular Channels Television programme on Wednesday.
Kukah, who is the convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), criticised the governor for the violence experienced in Kogi ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election in the state.
“I feel very sad because Kogi has been on the front burner, and Yahaya Bello, the governor, prided himself with being the youngest governor and being a representation of what the youths of this country can do if they are given the opportunity.
“Sadly, I think he’s been a very poor advertisement for what young people can do,” the cleric said.
Meanwhile, Kukah urged the Imo state government and organised labour to dialogue to resolve the animosity between them, while calling for peaceful gubernatorial polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa.
“When elections go wrong, it is ordinary people who suffer.
“I hope the labour leaders in Imo will really be more circumspect and ask themselves ‘who stands to gain and who stands to lose what?’ At the end of the day it is the people of Imo, they are not electing someone who is outside their state.
“Imo is a deeply Christian environment and I hope their religious leaders and others with moral authority can prevail on the union to defer whatever may be their grievance; this can only be resolved in a peaceful environment.
“We appeal to them to do what is needful and ensure that elections are duly conducted. Our people have suffered enough,” Kukah said.