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“We are the problem, He is the symptom” – Mathew Kukah on Trump
Mathew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has described US President Donald Trump as “a symptom of disease in Nigeria,” highlighting broader systemic issues within the country.
Kukah made the remarks in Lagos on Friday during the 60th birthday celebration of Reuben Abati, which also featured the public presentation of Abati’s three new books.
On October 31, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” in response to claims of Christian persecution.
He warned that the federal government must act swiftly to stop the killings of Christians, even suggesting the possibility of air or ground strikes against Islamic terrorists.
Trump also threatened to suspend all US aid to Nigeria if the violence persisted.
Speaking on these developments, Kukah described Trump’s actions as a wake-up call for Nigerian leaders.
He urged political and intellectual stakeholders to acknowledge the country’s systemic problems and craft lasting solutions.
“So, if you find us being such a chaotic, quarrelsome, angry, whatever, we are in Nigeria. We lack the culture, the institutional, and the moral instillation to establish,” Kukah said.
“All of us are confusing Trump with a sickness. Trump is a symptom of the disease that is in our country. It is time for Nigeria to wake up.”
The bishop also highlighted issues related to national identity and pride, citing the lack of tourism attractions and national monuments as examples.
“If somebody wants to visit this country today, where will I take them to? If somebody came to Nigeria today, where would they go?” he asked.
Kukah further criticized the absence of unifying figures whose names inspire respect across Nigeria’s diverse population.
“But you ask yourself now, who are the prominent Nigerians, the Nigerian statesmen, that their names resonate across the length and breadth of Nigeria without contradiction?” he added.
The cleric’s remarks underscore the need for self-reflection and proactive reforms in addressing Nigeria’s socio-political and moral challenges.
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