In a searing Easter message delivered on Holy Saturday, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto issued a clarion call to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to rescue Nigeria from the “cross of evil” that has plunged the nation into unprecedented suffering.
In his message, titled a reflection for Easter 2025, Bishop Kukah described Nigeria as a “national morgue,” where “a dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south.” He highlighted the daily kidnappings, brutal killings, and inhuman conditions endured by citizens, declaring that the nation’s suffering has reached a breaking point.
A reflection for Easter 2025, Bishop Kukah described Nigeria as a “national morgue,” where “a dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south
“Mr. President, Nigeria is becoming a huge national morgue,” he said, emphasizing that the culture of brutality and savagery has pushed Nigeria “outside the purview of human civilization.”
Acknowledging that President Tinubu did not create the crises, Bishop Kukah stressed that Nigerians have been “dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain” for too long.
He called for renewed hope, invoking Christian teachings and Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Hope. “Uncertainty about the future gives rise to conflicting feelings,” he quoted the Pope, noting that cynicism and discouragement have taken root amid relentless violence by “marauders, murderers, savages, and ravenous predators.”
Uncertainty about the future gives rise to conflicting feelings
The Bishop addressed specific national challenges, including food insecurity exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies—a decision he supported but warned has left citizens grappling with hunger and desolation. He criticized palliative distribution as a affront to human dignity and urged the President to make food security a fundamental right.
“Farming has become one of the most hazardous preoccupations in our country,” he said, calling for decisive action to protect farmers and ensure access to food.
On insecurity, Bishop Kukah revealed a chilling historical context, noting that public officials had previously admitted to importing killers to destabilize a past government.
Farming has become one of the most hazardous preoccupations in our country
This “cancer of insecurity” has now metastasized, with bandits embedded in every sphere of life, undermining the nation’s foundation. “Kidnapping is now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure of our country,” he warned, questioning whether the persistence of insecurity reflects a lack of capacity or complicity at the highest levels.
“Are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god?” he asked pointedly.
Bishop Kukah’s message was not without hope. He reminded Christians of the resurrection’s promise, urging them to remain the “light of the world” and resist the darkness engulfing Nigeria.
He called for collective commitment to rebuild a society aligned with divine principles, expressing confidence that most Nigerians desire peace. However, he cautioned that unchecked insecurity could ignite a “toxic mix of violence” that could spiral out of control.
The Easter message concluded with a direct appeal to President Tinubu: “Step up, get to the finishing line, and bring us down from this cross of shame.” Bishop Kukah wished the President and all Nigerians a blessed Easter, urging unity in the face of adversity.
As Nigeria grapples with its myriad challenges, Bishop Kukah’s poignant words resonate as both a lament and a rallying cry, challenging the government and citizens alike to confront the nation’s crises with courage and hope.
New & photo credit: TGNews
