Pope Francis Endorses Kukah, Appoints Him Adviser |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

In an appointment that comes as a balm on sore, the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has appointed the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship Mathew Kukah, as one of his Advisers.

This comes after the Federal Government and a number of Muslim groups in Nigeria attacked the Bishop for his Christmas message of December 25, 2020.

In the message, Bishop Kukah had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism, and bad governance. Kukah’s message was received in bad faith by the Federal Government and some Islamic organisations, but was commended by most discerning Nigerians.

A few days ago, an Islamic group asked the Bishop to apologise to the Islamic faith, or leave Sokoto. The quit order attracted a rebuke from many quarters, including from the FG, which nevertheless said that Kukah’s criticism of Buhari angered Nigerians, prompting not a few people to ask when a criticism of Buhari has become synonymous with a criticism  of the Islamic religion.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, reacting, warned that any harm done to Kukah would push Nigeria  to a point of no return.

But in what has been interpreted as Kukah’s growing clout, Internationally, Pope Francis appointed him as one of his Advisers.

The International appointment from the Pope  makes Kukah a member of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Integral Development.

The Dicastery is a group of persons charged with the responsibility of advising the Pope on issues of justice, peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, and other related matters.

According to a statement on Monday by the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Christopher Omotosho, Kukah’s appointment was contained in a letter by the Prefect of the Dicastery, Peter Cardinal Turkson.

“By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the Holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development,” part of  the statement read.

The appointment is for an initial period of five years and, is renewable upon expiration. The Council would be formally inaugurated on a later date.

Kukah had previously been appointed by the Vatican as a Consultor, and later a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City where he served under three Popes.