The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has firmly dismissed media reports claiming he argued that Christians in Nigeria are not facing persecution, describing the attribution as “false” and “baffling.”
In a statement titled “Of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria: My response,” the renowned cleric expressed his sincere apology for the “great pain and mental anguish” the misrepresentation caused his “brothers and sisters within the body of Christ.”
Kukah addressed earlier reports that quoted him questioning the narrative of persecution by citing figures on educated Christians and their control of the economy.
The alleged quotes included: “If you are a Christian in Nigeria and you say you are persecuted, my question is: how? At least 80 per cent of educated Nigerians are Christians, and up to 85 per cent of the Nigerian economy is controlled by Christians. With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?”
However, Kukah clarified the original intent of his speech, delivered to the Catholic Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna on November 28th.
“For the record, I did not say that Christians are not persecuted in Nigeria! …I concluded that the greatest challenge for Christians was unity and solidarity. Given the huge human and material resources that we have as Christians in Nigeria, if only we stood together, I argued, we would have no reason to be victims of persecution. Nothing here implied a denial of the fate of Christians,” the Bishop stated.
He stressed that his message was a call for unity and solidarity, not a denial of the persecution faced by the community.
Kukah reiterated his longstanding position that the bloodshed affecting Nigerian citizens needs to end immediately.
He affirmed that the government and its security agencies bear an urgent responsibility to bring the perpetrators to account.
“The outpouring of emotions is understandable especially against the backdrop of the inviolability of life, the extermination of which must not be undermined by any debates on numbers or intent,” he said.
The Bishop urged Nigerians to focus on reclaiming the nation’s soul, saying: “As a people, I believe we owe ourselves the collective duty to regain our humanity not as perpetual victims but as equal citizens of our land… Too many innocent souls have been lost, too much blood shed and our children and citizens are in captivity.”
He assured his audience that his commitment to the struggle for peace, justice, and reconciliation remains steadfast, urging Christians not to be distracted.
“I am deeply sorry for the unnecessary distraction. These moments are too serious for us to equivocate. This is not the time for us to retreat or be distracted. This is a contest that we must win. The journey may be painful. We may falter along the way but we will only reach our destination by learning our lessons, standing up even when we stumble, and always keeping our eyes on the ultimate prize, peace for our country, justice for those injured, and reconciliation for our people.
“This is a struggle that I have committed most of my pastoral and intellectual life to. It is a struggle in which I pray that, by clinging to the old rugged cross, we can one day exchange it for a crown. So, let us all get back on the road especially as the spirit of Bethlehem beckons” he added.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]