Obono-Obla knocks Bishop Kukah over comment against Nigeria before US Congress
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“In this country there was a time the top hierarchy of the Federal Government was totally dominated by Christians and heavens did not fall.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Cross River State Chapter and former Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief (Barr) Okoi Obono-Obla, has expressed disappointment over Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Fr Matthew Hassan Kukah’s statement before the United States Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Obono-Obla, in a Facebook post made by the Medical Director/CEO, NU-VISION EYE CLINIC, who is also the National Coordinator, Foundation Against Fraud, Indiscipline and Corruption, Dr. Uche Diala, criticised Bishop Kukah’s opinion in his latest statement titled: THE ‘TRAGEDY’ THAT IS BISHOP MATTHEW HASSAN KUKAH
“I am hugely disappointed with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, his rhetoric and incendiary utterances of recent .
I use to respect and admire him for his intellectualism. But of recent he is using the pulpit to play very dangerous politics,” Obono-Obla commented.
Recall Kukah said: “For the first time in Nigeria, the first three persons: the President, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are all Muslims. This has never happened before, so we require practical and measured assistance that can help us and our children.”
Uche Diala, speaking on the statement, asked why Bishop Kukah pretended to forget that the headship of the three arms of government is a result of a democratic process, and applicable to the United States, whose Congress people he complained to, also.
He emphasised that the positions are not by appointment and was worried why the man, who is supposed to be Bishop of a reputable church group and secretary of National Peace Committee in Nigeria, pretended to forget how the present situation came to be.
Obono-Obla reacting to Uche’s post, added, “In this country there was a time the top hierarchy of the Federal Government was totally dominated by Christians and heavens did not fall.
“During the regime of General Yakubu Gowon from 1967 to 1975, the Head of State and Commander in Chief was a Christian, Colonel Joseph Akahan, Chief of Staff Army (1967 to 1968) was Christian. Also , Major General Emmanuel Eyo Ekpo, Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters (1968-1972), was Christian; Major General David Akpode Ejoor, Chief of Staff, Army from 1971 to 1975) was Christian; the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Joseph Edet Adewale Wey (also Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters from 1973 to 1975) was Christian.
“He was succeeded 1973 by Admiral Nelson Soroh, also a Christian, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon Justice Ademola Adetokunbo was Christian, the Chief of Air Staff (1969 to 1975), Brigadier General Emmanuel Ekwe was Christian . Also in the regime of Gen. Murtala Mohammed, we had a preponderance of Christians. Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, chief of staff Supreme Headquarters was Christian, Gen Theo Yakubu Danjuma, Chief of Army was Christian etc.
“In Shagari regime, the vice president was Dr Alex Ekwueme, was Christian, Senate President Dr Joseph Wayas was Christian, the speaker House of Representatives, Hon Umezoke was Christian. Also during the botched General Ibrahim Babangida programme, the Senate president Dr Iyochia Ayu was Christian, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Anaekwe was Christian.
“In Jonathan regime, the Senate president was Senator David Mark, a Christian, the Deputy Senate President was Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was Christian.
“So if during PMB regime, the president, senate president and speaker House of Representatives, all democratically elected are Muslims, and so what. What has their faith got to do with the work they are doing. Please, religious, ethnic bigots, secessionists etc should leave us alone with divisive gospel and propaganda.”
