In a powerful address that has sparked national conversation, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, has broken his silence regarding recent invasion threats made by former US President Donald Trump against Nigeria.
Trump's Threats as National Mirror
Speaking during the 60th birthday celebration of renowned journalist and former presidential aide Dr. Reuben Abati in Lagos on Friday, October 8, Bishop Kukah delivered a sobering assessment of the nation's condition. The event, which also featured the unveiling of three new books by Abati, attracted prominent dignitaries including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
The clergyman argued that Trump's controversial statements should not be met with outrage but rather with serious self-reflection. "Trump is not our problem; he is simply highlighting what we have refused to fix," Kukah stated. "We are mistaking the messenger for the illness. The real disease is within Nigeria."
Confronting Nigeria's Governance and Identity Crisis
Bishop Kukah elaborated that the international controversy should compel Nigerian leaders to confront the country's deep-seated governance and identity challenges. He described Nigeria as a nation "struggling with institutional weakness, poor values, and a lack of cohesive national vision."
"If we appear chaotic, quarrelsome and angry, it is because we have not built the moral or institutional framework required to stabilise a nation," the bishop noted during his compelling speech.
The religious leader particularly lamented Nigeria's absence of unifying national symbols and functional monuments, which he said reflects the country's ongoing identity crisis. "If a visitor arrives in this country today, where do you take them? In many countries, national monuments and presidential residences are sources of pride. Here, we hardly have anything to present," he questioned.
Wake-Up Call for National Renewal
Kukah urged Nigerians to treat Trump's statement not as an insult but as a challenge to do better. "Whether it comes from Trump or anyone else, the message is clear: Nigeria must wake up and confront its realities," he emphasized.
The bishop also raised critical questions about the nation's lack of universally admired statesmen, pointing out that Nigeria's fractured identity is evident in its inability to celebrate shared heroes. "Who are the Nigerians whose names inspire admiration across the nation without controversy?" he asked the distinguished audience.
Concluding his remarks, Bishop Kukah called for what he described as a fundamental national reset. "We need to reload, because either we never fired properly or the target has moved. But one thing is certain: the time to rebuild is now," he declared.
The event, attended by leading journalists, scholars, and political figures, was marked by profound reflections on Nigeria's democracy, identity, and moral direction in the face of increasing global scrutiny.
