The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Father Mathew Hassan Kukah described the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim Muslim Presidential ticket as an issue that should not be over-flogged by Christians.
The outspoken Christian cleric has called on Nigerians, especially the Christendom that they should be worrying flogging a dead horse.
According to him, Christians should not worry about the choice of any political party, but they should rather ask themselves which of these parties they can trust to protect their interests.
Kukah said this during a Maiden Pastor’s and Church Leaders Summit”, organized by the Adamawa State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), held in St. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral Yola.
He addressed a group of Journalists and stated that is moving away from the binary of Christian or Muslim mentality because it is not who we are as Nigerians, and it’s not what happens in the marketplace, there are no roads for the Christians or the Muslims.
Kukah, however, said that the Muslim Muslim ticket is not meant to unite Nigeria, it’s only a fly off the face of our diversity and our shared values.
” I don’t think anybody should be worried flogging a dead horse, the parties have made their choices, I don’t have a problem with that, is left for me to decide over who I should vote, and I will not go where I will not be appreciated or valued,” Kukah said
He revealed that the Muslim Muslim ticket of the APC is a show of many identities so many Nigerians are bearing. According to him, some people are having ethnic solidarity, while many others are having their solidarity across religious lines over the ticket.
He said: ” We are not defined by religion and ethnicities, We are defined by multiplicities and identities.”
He reminded the gathering that God created Christians and Muslims alike and for that reason, the two should grow together in one accord and tolerate one another and stop fighting for their Creator.
He warned politicians to understand that Whatever decision they made, they will live with the consequences, and Nobody will be taken to court for not voting for a Muslim Muslim ticket or any ticket at all.
While addressing one thousand one hundred clergymen and women, Kukah commended the organizers of the summit, describing it as a great innovation that if maintained will grow up as a national event that will consolidate some of the gains they are making as the body of Christ
“As Christians, we need many engaging meetings cutting across all denominations, I commended the CAN in Adamawa.” He said
He worried that the unity in Christianity is a nebulous concept, growing to a bunker mentally of backbiting one another, stealing members from one another doing a whole lot of ungodly acts.
He said if Christians should live by the standard of their callings that they don’t need a Nigerian guide to give them a guide, they will be the moral guide of the country. But too bad to say that so many Christians are not living up to the standard of Basic principles of civility.
The event was seen as a novelty by Kukah that Christians need to constantly talk to themselves to meet the calls that will make them prepare to preach the gospel in the knock and crannies of the World.
He commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the state for his religious tolerance which he noted is extraordinary and charged other politicians to emulate him for the common good of the country.
Fintiri while declaring open the submit organized to hold for three days has appealed to Nigerians not to discountenance the role of the two major religions of Christianity and Islam in the formation and leadership recruitment of the Nigerian state.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a society that preaches love and harmony which can be done through support for religious institutions in the state.
While describing the leadership summit as a laudable effort that should be encouraged for a good society placed on the right trajectory of growth and development with leadership that is reflective of the expectations of the citizens.
He reassured to continue to work with Christendom towards making Adamawa a better place, stressing that a commitment to ensure justice and fairness is the central key of his administration.
The Governor commended the uncommon leadership style of Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza which has helped not only the church and the entire body of Christ that supported the state on many occasions in uniting naughty issues.
He thanked the church for preaching the message of harmony and peaceful coexistence in the state and the country at large, stressing that the gesture should be encouraged and sustained.
In his keynote address, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Rev Daniel Okoh said the Submit being the first of its kind in Adamawa and the country at large has drawn pastors and church leaders from across the state.
Rev Okoh said the aim of the submission is basically to build the capacity and intellectual development between the clergies and the congratulations in the administration of God’s Ministry.
Earlier State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most Rev Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza said the summit is in fulfillment of the promise he made to build the capacity of pastors and church leaders.
He commended Governor Fintiri for giving the Christian community a sense of belonging that it never experienced in the past and congratulated him for his well-deserved award from the federal government
