A kind person would describe a sophist as teacher of rhetoric or philosophy, but the uncharitable could argue that a sophist is an intentionally fallacious speaker. But you shouldn’t stick the label of the second order of sophists on Father Mathew Kukah, because he is a prince and priest of the Most High.
As Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Father Kukah is closer to becoming a cardinal of the Sacred College of Rome, whose conduct is guided by justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude – characteristics that are basic to the human condition. From cardinal, Father Kukah may become Pope, and therefore become infallible.
With such divine future, why would Father Kukah be ‘homming and hemming,’ seemingly speaking from both sides of his mouth, when matters got to the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari putting a forensic microscope to the activities of the expired government of former President Goodluck Jonathan?
Foreign nations like America and Britain have offered to help trace the footprints of looters of Nigeria’s treasury; and stalwarts of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, like Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, insist on a reign of integrity, and end to business as usual.
Also, Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ademola Onafowokan, says corruption is responsible for the poverty and hunger in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, as he observes that “The cost of doing business in Africa is high and not encouraging, while corruption is endemic.”
For someone generally assumed to be permanently on the side of what is true and wholesome, Father Kukah’s recent posture is inexplicable—especially because he could never be one of those religious leaders that Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Gani Taofik, suggests benefited from political patronages.
Social activist Femi Falana, however, thinks that Father Kukah’s National Peace Committee on 2015 General Elections, led by former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, is protecting the interest of the rich. He must mean the corrupt rich. He cites Section 15 of the Nigerian Constitution to encourage President Buhari to proceed with his intention to probe the last administration.
Father Kukah is reported to have said that Jonathan should not be probed because he conceded defeat in the last election. But he also counseled that Buhari should obey the rule of law if he wants to probe Jonathan anyway, and correctly pointed out that the current Buhari government is not a military regime.
Father Kukah admits that though Jonathan did his best, his presidency was not perfect. He also accepts that mismanagement of Nigeria’s resources must be tackled. He adds that while anyone found guilty of pilfering public funds “should be dealt with,” but that “it should not distract us from whatever else (Jonathan) may have done well.” God forefend that the good Father may be arguing that a little good should cancel out sanctions for gross abuse.
Father Kukah’s argument that the probe could distract Buhari is valid, but his reminder that Buhari’s earlier outing as military despot used military tribunals to prosecute politicians, some of whom are now his co-travellers in the All Progressives Congress, is of no import. And he should know that Nigeria will cross the bridge when it gets to recovery of stolen loots stashed in foreign banks.
But by far the scarier of Father Kukah’s arguments are that former Nigerian Presidents will protect Jonathan from Buhari’s clutches. He then made the subtle threat that by prosecuting Jonathan, Buhari may be paving the way for his own future prosecution. He even threw in a reminder that Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo had been incarcerated once before, after being Heads of State. Goodness!
And for full effect, he went on about his belief the Office of the President of Nigeria is ‘semi-sacred’ (who says?), and must be respected, “even if we mistakenly put a scoundrel there.” He adds that “We can respect the office and still punish the occupant if he misbehaves.” What is this doublespeak all about?
Father Kukah then mixed the oranges and apples of the immorality and indiscretion of former American Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton with possible cases of stealing or corruption. (But of course, you need former President Jonathan to help clarify which is graver between stealing and corruption).
Father Kukah must be reminded that Section 23 of Nigeria’s Constitution provides that “The national ethics (of Nigeria) shall be discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self reliance, and patriotism.”
A patriotic Father Kukah could straighten the path of social justice by, at least, encouraging Buhari to visit justice on erring past public officers who fail the integrity test, and instill discipline in those still serving. He should encourage former President Jonathan to accept responsibilities for his past actions —whether wholesome or not—and slay the bogey of fear.
Father Kukah must stick out his neck by complying with Section 24(1) of the Constitution which says “it shall be the duty of every citizen to render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.’ Father Kukah must be seen to be helping President Buhari to carry out his duties as the nation’s chief law officer, and not discourage him.
When the likes of Father Kukah remain on the side of Section 209 of the Constitution that requires that “A person in the public service of the State shall observe and conform to the Code of Conduct,” which provides that “A pubic officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities,” all will be well with the Nigerian polity.
Analysts content that some Nigerians are uncomfortable with the dawn of change that appears to be painful to behold, and accept. It reminds you of Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave,’ where prisoners, held down with chains in a dungeon from childhood, only saw shadows cast by a burning fire behind a wall that separated them from the fire.
Plato reasons that if the prisoners are suddenly released from the dungeon, to directly behold the fire, two things will happen: they will suffer biting pains to their eyes and sharp pains to their necks as they quickly turn away their eyes from the source of the light. But if they are compelled to stare down the glare, their eyes will adjust, and they will gain proper perspectives of the spectacle before them.
The morale of this metaphor by Plato is that it may be hard for individuals who got used to the beguiling yotomi, miliki, or hedonism of the Jonathan era to adjust to the probing anti-corruption posture of the Buhari Administration. But if Buhari continues in his quest, the kicking and fussing will eventually die down. Living right may then become a way of life.
Father Kukah’s antecedents do not place him in the group of people who will be slow to accept change. It would be tragic if it were so—considering that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III, the other eminence that is resident in Sokoto, wholeheartedly endorsed Buhari’s quest to prosecute those who may have stolen Nigeria’s commonwealth. Those concerned about the health of Father Kukah’s civil activism wonder if both eminences, who operate in the same spiritual space, ever exchange notes.
Leave a Reply