The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, on Saturday, said Nigerians were tired of excuses and need their country back.
Speaking on the recent massacres in Plateau state, the Bishop tasked President Ahmed Tinubu to urgently end the mindless killings in the country, saying the legitimacy of his government hangs on its ability to do so
“Tinubu must know that the legitimacy of his government hangs on resolving this and giving us our country back.
“We are tired of the confusing, inexcusable. monosyllabic excuses saying, this is an asymmetrical war, we are on top of the situation, you cannot kill an idea, it is not about religion or ethnicity, we will bring them to justice.
“This culture of investigation as excuses must end. The media and we the people must continue to remind the government of its obligations to be accountable.
“If investigations are made public and rewards or punishment are carried out, then it builds confidence. It will enable people to become involved in their own security.
“We, citizens of Nigeria feel collectively humiliated and betrayed by those who are collaborating with these murderers and a government that seems helpless.
Why has the North become the birthplace of so much bloodletting?; Why have these killings seen as tools of negotiation with the Nigerian state by the protectors of the north? Why has our north become the incubator of all that is destructive? Boko Haram, Banditry, and Shades of Terrorism all live in our region. Why is this so?
“These killers are not ordinary murderers. They are killers for a purpose. It is the task of the Intelligence community to tell us who they are, where they live, and what their goals are,” he said
He, however, commended the federal government for its response to the situation.
“So far, I commend the government in its responses to these tragedies. Unlike before when no one bothered to visit the scenes, we are seeing very rapid responses from the top.
“This is necessary but not sufficient as a strategy. Rebuilding these communities requires more than mere physical infrastructure. There is need for clearer, more imagined strategies for rebuilding community cohesion and resilience.
“Rebuilding hearts is more urgent than rebuilding houses. Merely awarding contracts for building of houses is not as important as building markets, rebuilding roads, providing agricultural inputs for farmers and so on,” he added.
“Only by pursuing, apprehending and bringing these evil men to justice can we begin to speak of a genuine reconciliation among our people. Bringing criminals to justice is justice to the criminal and justice to the victim too.
“Fixing our economy is desirable, but it must hang on a rigid security scaffolding to protect citizens and nation. The youth are fleeing their own country. The elites are fleeing their own communities. The poor are becoming refugees outside their own communities. Mr. President, give us back our communities. Give us back our country,” he said.
