Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, has urged Nigerians to embrace love, light, and unity as a means of overcoming the nation’s present problems, according to Sahara Reporters.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The Bishop, who made this statement while delivering his Christmas message at the Holy Family Cathedral in Sokoto, lamented that the nation’s stagnation is rooted in its failure to choose transparency, accountability, and integrity over the “darkness” of corruption and greed.
“Nigeria’s lack of visible and measurable progress is tied to the fact that we have chosen darkness rather than light,” Kukah stated.
“Imagine if we let the light shine on our public service, on our politics, on our individual, community, and national life, and on our public institutions. Imagine what Nigeria would be like if we chose light instead of darkness.”
The renowned cleric urged Nigerians to embrace the nation’s diversity, particularly in terms of its multiple ethnic nationalities, as a divine gift rather than allowing this diversity to divide the nation. He reminded the audience of the ideals enshrined in the national anthem: “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.”
The Bishop commended recent youth-focused reforms, including the Not Too Young to Run Bill, which has increased political participation among young Nigerians, and the Student Loan Act 2024.
The latter, he noted, is a promising initiative aimed at expanding educational opportunities for university and vocational students alike. “We hope this project will be free of bureaucratic bottlenecks and favoritism, ensuring that poverty does not exclude anyone from receiving a good education,” he emphasized.
Despite these strides, Kukah highlighted ongoing security challenges as a significant barrier to national stability.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
