Umbrella Islamic body, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, on Wednesday, lambasted the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, over his Christmas day homily.
The organisation led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, described Kukah’s homily as a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria.
JNI’s reaction came in a statement issued three weeks after the bishop’s message accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism.
JNI’s Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement in Kaduna titled, ‘Press release on Reverend Kukah’s Christmas homily,’ described Kukah’s message as “irresponsible and seditious.”
According to the statement, “Though the message is disguised as a political hogwash to deceive the innocent, there is no doubt that it was a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria, hence the need for this intervention.
“The Bishop’s statement was a prepared address considering the occasion and the audience; one cannot but agree that it was a calculated attempt to insult Islam which is typical of him.
“His veiled insinuation that Muslims have a pool of violence to draw from is disgusting, disheartening, as well as condemnable.
“Responsibly, Christmas homilies should come with messages of hope, unity, mercy, forgiveness of the Supreme Being and resilience through prayers, especially in this trying time.
“The Bishop’s message was however a clear deviation from well-established norm across the globe.”
