From Raji Bello, Sokoto
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt. Revered Mathew Hassan Kukah, has condemned the beheading of 10 persons believed to be Christian faithful by Boko Haram terrorists.
The Bishop made the condemnation in a statement sent to journalists through the Diocese’s Communications Office. He accused the Federal Government of using different methods to achieve the same goal of Islamic dominance.
The Bishop compared the Federal Government with Boko Haram, saying the only difference is the later make used of bomb to achieve their aim.
While condemning the Christmas Day attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and that of attack by Boko Haram on Christmas Eve, the Bishop lamented that the only difference between the government and Boko Haram is Boko Haram is holding a bomb.
According to him: “The only difference between the government and Boko Haram is Boko Haram is holding a bomb.
“They are using the levers of power to secure the supremacy of Islam, which then gives more weight to the idea that it can be achieved by violence.
“With the situation in Nigeria, it is hard to see the moral basis they have to defeat Boko Haram. They have created the conditions to make it possible for Boko Haram to behave the way they are behaving.” he added.
Bishop Kukah also noted that the only thing preventing Nigeria from being engulfed in civil war was the peaceful tenets of Christianity.
“Christians have every reason to feel insecure and also there is a general feeling of their marginalisation from the political process. If the principles of our religion were different, there would be a civil war by now.
“It is the glory of our religion that this hasn’t happened. It is difficult to preach peace in this context. Any resolution depends on how Christians decide to react. They won’t use violence but what will they do?” he asked.
Bishop Kukah said the Nigerian Government, by allocating key government positions with hardline Muslims, gives tacit approval to such groups adding that “If the people in power don’t do enough to integrate Christians then they give oxygen to Islamism.
“If they have countries where everybody is Muslim in power then you give vent to the idea that Islam should be supreme.”
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