Breaking: Presidency chides Muslim forum for giving Kukah ultimatum, cautions Catholic priest
- The Nigerian presidency has finally reacted following the backlash and threats that followed Bishop Kukah's Christmas day message
- This is coming after a Muslim forum asked the cleric to leave Sokoto state over an inciting statement
- However, in a reaction, Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman said that the ultimatum is wrong
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The presidency has released a statement in reaction to a group, Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF), giving the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mattew Hassan Kukah an ultimatum to leave the northern state.
Legit.ng recalls that the group issued the threats on Tuesday, January 12, describing the bishop's statement criticising the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as "provocative."
Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 13, and shared on Facebook said that the ultimatum by the group is wrong because it is not in line with Nigeria's Constitution.
Source: Twitter
Shehu further said the right for all religions to co-exist is enshrined in the Constitution, adding that it is the duty of the government to ensure it is respected.
The presidential spokesman said though Kukah offended many with his controversial message against the government and the president, the Catholic bishop must respect the feelings of his fellow Nigerians in his private and public utterances.
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Legit.ng earlier reported that Kukah accused some people of inciting violence against him following the backlash that followed his Christmas day message on Nigeria.
Specifically, he made the accusation against an Islamic group, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI). He consequently called out the secretary of the group, Khalid Aliyu.
The cleric disclosed this in a press statement on Monday, January 11. Kukah who said they accused him of firing an arrow at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria challenged them to point out any part in his message in which he insulted Islam or Muslims.
In a related development, Kukah clarified his Christmas homily which attracted criticisms from supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kukah had in his homily accused Buhari of tribalism, adding that if a southerner were in power today, he would have been a victim of a coup.
The message irked supporters and admirers of the president who took to social media to accuse Kukah of fanning the embers of discord and heating the polity.
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Source: Legit.ng
