{"id":94055,"date":"2022-04-19T15:37:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T14:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=94055"},"modified":"2022-04-19T15:37:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T14:37:55","slug":"presidency-tackles-kukah-asks-him-to-join-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/presidency-tackles-kukah-asks-him-to-join-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidency tackles Kukah, asks him to join politics"},"content":{"rendered":"
THE presidency has taken up Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Province, Most Rev Mathew Matthew Hassan over his Easter homily message on President Muhammadu Buhari.<\/p>\n

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement he issued last night, said as the nomination congress approaches, rumblings within the party rise to an acrimonious crescendo and the troubleshooting market blossoming in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is in desperate yearning for his tested skills, we are surprised- so too are many others \u2013 that the Bishop of Sokoto Province, the Most Rev Mathew Matthew Hassan could still find the time for a lengthy homily on his usual target, Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Shehu accused the renowned clergyman of spreading hate among Nigerians and challenged him to join politics and prove his worth.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a man who has been spreading hate for decades,\u201d Shehu said there was \u201cnothing new in the homily, except for the fact that while millions of Christians were remembering the Lord\u2019s crucifixion on Friday, His descent on Saturday, His resurrection on Sunday, and subsequent appearance to his disciples, Bishop Matthew Kukah was playing politics.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Shehu, from his pulpit he devoted his Easter message not to Christ\u2019s death and rebirth so man might be saved \u2013 but to damning the government in the most un-Christian terms.<\/p>\n

He said Bishop Kukah neglects the Bible\u2019s teachings in James 1:26: \u201cIf anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person\u2019s religion is worthless.\u201d<\/p>\n

The presidential spokesman further said Easter should be a time for renewal, and for hope. For those in authority \u2013 both temporal and spiritual \u2013 to come together in word and deed so those who look to them for example can be inspired by their grace.<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\u201cThis 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 \u201cavoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis list of things he claims as broken \u2013 from churches to mosques to schools and motorways \u2013 belie all those that have been built, and others built anew during this government\u2019s time in office.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShould he feel compelled for whatever reason to criticize the government for what he views as their mistakes the Bible makes clear how it should be done: \u201cBrothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness\u201d, Galatians 6:1-2.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cIf Bishops or religious leaders believe they have a willing audience for tales of government error or fragility, they do an injustice to their flock by filling their ears with talk of division and hateful thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cNigeria knows too well Bishop Kukah\u2019s views of the government. He has made quite clear how much he dislikes them from the day they were elected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether expressing his political views is a good use or an abuse of religious office is for others to decide. But the people of Nigeria have spoken \u2013 twice: They support this government at the ballot box. They have not been swayed by hateful talk from any bully-pulpit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe respectfully ask Bishop Kukah to leave government to the voters and the politicians they elect, while he concentrates on his job, as it is expressed in James 1:27: \u201cReligion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr else, he should put away his clerical garb, join partisan politics and see how far he can go,\u201d he added.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE presidency has taken up Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Province, Most Rev Mathew Matthew Hassan over his Easter homily message on President Muhammadu Buhari. 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