Bishop Kukah is not the first to suggest that the President should be the father of all and not of only a section of the country - Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom has waded into the controversy ignited by Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah's Christmas Day Message. 

 

The Benue state Governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, described the federal government's reaction to the statement as unfair and repressive.

 

He further urged the Federal Government not to muzzle patriotic Nigerians who raise genuine concerns over the worsening security situation in the country, as Bishop Kukah is not the first to suggest that the President should be the father of all and not of only a section of the country. 

 

Ortom said; 

 

“Bishop Kukah is a selfless Nigerian who only seeks to unite the nation and speaks his mind frankly on national issues calling on the government to serve the people.

“The renowned Bishop is not the first to call on the leadership of the country to strengthen security agencies and be proactive in combating the wave of violence and killings in parts of the country.

“Many other Nigerians have been making the same call on a daily basis. He was not the first to suggest that the President should be the father of all and not of only a section of the country or a particular ethnic group.”

 

The Governor added that instead of politicizing the views of Bishop Kukah and castigating him, the Federal Government should take a second look at the things he raised in the Christmas Day message to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

He added; 

 

“The Bishop’s statement is a true reflection of the current situation in Nigeria and urges President Muhammadu Buhari not to listen to sycophants who may tell him that everything is well with the country. All is not well."