Blessed Are the Propagandists -By Owei Lakemfa

Owei Lakemfa

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese has almost been buried in a pile of criticism. This followed his comments as a spokesperson of the National Peace Committee, on the war against corruption. If the cerebral Bishop has erred, I plead he be forgiven. After all, to err is human, to forgive is divine. Having known the Bishop for several years, I want to testify that he has no inheritance in the House of Jonathan.

I am certain he had no stake in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration which is being dragged to the stake. Also, given my association with a few members of the Peace Committee, I doubt it was on an errand for former President Goodluck Jonathan as widely speculated. I am sorry to say that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which in reaction had issued an angry statement warning opinion leaders to steer clear of the anti-corruption war, might be mistaken.

The Bishop is mistaken when he argues that “…a lot of talk and speculations about probes are distractions nobody needs.” Actually, they are needed to fill the vacuum. I am sure he thinks that it is better the government concentrates on the hunger that struts the country like an unfeeling conqueror, on mass unemployment that rules the land, and putting the basics of government in place. He might be thinking that the administration needs focus on implementing campaign promises like paying unemployed graduates and 25 million poor Nigerians a N5,000 monthly stipend and providing a meal daily for children in public schools. But what the Bishop fails to realise is that Nigerians will not live by bread alone. He ought to know that there is time for everything; a time to sow and a time to harvest; a time to accuse and a time to throw the accused into jail. This is the time to kill corruption, or corruption will kill Nigeria. When it is finished with the corrupt administration of Jonathan, then government will focus on issues of governance and campaign promises.

When the Bishop said “The point we want to make very clear is that we are in a democracy” not a military regime, he failed to define democracy, which in this case is the government of the progressive people, by the government, for the progressives. Perhaps Bishop’s greatest blunder was to ask for investigations before people are found guilty. He compounded his indiscretion by arguing “We don’t think any one should be criminalised when nobody has been brought to court. We are speaking on behalf of ordinary Nigerians.” Who else can speak on behalf of ordinary Nigerians, but the party that won the elections? After the Americans are rumoured to have handed a list of corrupt PDP politicians, the Presidency had announced uncovering massive fraud, and the APC, exercising party supremacy, had announced monumental looting, with an initial figure of over N11 trillion; what other investigation is needed?

Given the party’s legendary tradition of thoroughness, truthfulness and honesty, I am convinced, like many Nigerians, that the unnamed former government functionaries are guilty. So there is no need for probes, investigation or even court trials which can be long, expensive and in which the corrupt may go free based on technicalities. All that should be done is that the accused are rounded up and thrown into jail. Bishop should learn from the trial of Barabbas, the highway robber in the Bible who was freed after trial by the mob. Also, he should not forget that the culprits have been given fair trial by the media, especially the social media, and the jury’s verdict is that they are guilty. We surely cannot discard the voice of the people; vox populi, vox dei.

From my investigations, another area Bishop angered the people was to hint on Dr. Jonathan’s role in ensuring a peaceful electoral process. He should know that it is a sacrilege to mention him under progressive skies. More annoying was his warning that the whip being used to whip Jonathan today, may also be used to whip Buhari tomorrow. This is indeed, a serious disrespect for the person of His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

I want to plead with our leaders angered by the Bishop’s comments to temper justice with mercy. They should not let matters escalate by allowing angry Nigerians to demand that the Catholic Church denounce the Bishop. I am sure he has learnt his lessons. There is also the humiliation that people who were hiding under their grandmothers’ beds when Nigerians like Kukah stood up against military dictatorship, are today having diarrhea of the mouth insulting the Bishop. I think it is enough disgrace for him that the cubs who hid in the bushes when Kukah numbered among the fighters for democracy, are the Facebook lions of today claiming to lecture him on democracy.

Given Bishop’s propensity to be fair minded, he might actually be trying to warn President Buhari to avoid the pitfalls of his first coming. Back in 1984, the crowds thronged the streets singing his praises for tossing politicians into jail and introducing draconian policies plus a War Against Indiscipline. But when his party men in the military hierarchy later turned against him, so did the crowds change sides. Perhaps Bishop can see that those shouting “hosanna” today may cry, “crucify him”, tomorrow. But if the propagandists lay out the path that must be followed, what can the righteous do? As I pleaded before, let us bury the hatchet in the head of the Devil. Let us forgive Bishop’s short comings.

Another man of God I want us to forgive is Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Church who said “I have houses in at least 188 countries in the world, so I am richer than Bill Gates”. He meant this figuratively, not that he actually owns houses in all those countries. It is like the poor worker on minimum wage proclaiming “In my Father’s House, there are many mansions” when in reality, he is owing rents for the one room match box he calls home.