- A respected bishop and influential social critic who does not shy away from speaking truth to power
When the Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, turned 70, on August 31, he reinforced his reformist image. He unveiled an ambitious plan to build a N200 million Bishop Kukah Centre in Abuja, which, among other things, will provide leadership training aimed at improving the capacity of people in power.
Kukah said at the launch of his new book, Broken Truths, in Abuja: ‘‘I am specific about raising the fund for this centre locally, I want this to be a Nigeria-centric, Africa-centric policy centre that aims at trying to provide tools for good governance for those in office.”
He added: “Is it possible to convince politicians that politics is a noble game – and that it is a vehicle we can use to attain the common goal of our society? One is hoping that going forward, the right people will develop the right reflex for participating in politics in Nigeria.”
The centre will have a school of government, and also focus on interfaith dialogue, knowledge promotion and memory preservation. The vision is consistent with how he perceives his role as a faith leader. It is a statement on his social responsibility.
He triggered an intense controversy last year, when, in his Christmas message, he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for alleged “nepotism” and its negative effect on “national cohesion and trust.” It was yet another instance that reflected his reputation for speaking truth to power. Some people call him the conscience of the nation; some describe him as a voice crying in the wilderness.
His landmark birthday also highlighted his passion for social progress with his announcement of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Award project for young people. “We are looking at finding indigenous scientific solutions to our local problems,’’ he explained, adding that participants from across the country would be expected to come up with solutions to problems in their local communities.
The focus on Nigerian youths, the proverbial leaders of tomorrow, and the ICT orbit, described as the future of the globe, shows that the bishop is not only thinking about improving the country’s present circumstances but also about preparing the country for the future.
Born in Anchuna, in present-day Kaduna State, Kukah was ordained a Catholic priest in December 1976. He studied at St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, Kaduna State; St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau State; the University of Ibadan, where he got a diploma in Religious Studies; and earned a first degree in Divinity at Pontifical Urban University, Rome.
After getting a master’s degree in Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, UK, in 1980, his intellectual inclination led him to the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he earned a doctorate in 1990.
With striking courage, he employs a combination of religious authority and intellectual power to demand social progress. He represents the cleric as an activist.
He is recognised for what he stands for, which has remarkably given him various roles under different federal administrations in the country. Interestingly, he is a social critic the authorities can’t ignore, and one they even find helpful.
In an interview, in April, he flaunted his impressive record of service to the country: “I have served three successive or even four presidents since 1999. I served in the Oputa panel, I served as a member of the electoral reform committee, and I was appointed secretary of the political reform conference.
“I spent about seven years, beginning from the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration right through to this government, going in between Abuja, Kaduna and Ogoni land to reconcile the people of Ogoni land with Shell.”
The projects he unveiled to mark his 70th birthday show his untiring quest for improved social conditions. We wish him many more years of service to the fatherland.
The Nation
