Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, has attributed the recent hunger-induced stampedes in Abuja, Oyo, and Anambra States to government inaction, lamenting the loss of innocent lives during food distribution events.
Speaking during his Christmas message on Wednesday, Bishop Kukah described the tragic incidents as a “metaphor for the desperation” gripping the nation. He criticized the government for failing to address the root causes of hunger and poverty, which he said have created conditions for such preventable tragedies.
“The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into. The failures of government to respond concretely toward ending the horrible crisis of hunger and desperation has created the conditions for these avoidable tragedies,” he stated.
Bishop Kukah urged the government to work with institutions dedicated to societal welfare, emphasizing the need for citizens to live with dignity.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress since independence, the Bishop highlighted enduring challenges such as ethnicity, nepotism, and greed, which he said have hindered the nation’s development.
“Our journey to greatness is still severely constrained by the forces of ethnicity, nepotism, and greed,” he remarked. According to him, these forces deepen feelings of exclusion and contribute to rising violence.
He also addressed the barriers to youth participation in politics, pointing out that the high cost of running for office remains a significant hurdle despite the passage of the Not Too Young to Run Bill.
On education, Bishop Kukah praised the government for introducing loan schemes but stressed the importance of including vocational and technical students. He called for the removal of bureaucratic hurdles to ensure no one is excluded from accessing quality education due to poverty.
“In future, poverty should not exclude anyone from a good education. We encourage the youth to seize this opportunity with both hands,” he advised.
While acknowledging progress in combating insecurity, Bishop Kukah called for a comprehensive national security plan that addresses unemployment and religious extremism. He stressed that these issues are critical to achieving lasting peace.
“Insecurity is the first child of corruption. We cannot win the war against insecurity without addressing the issues of unemployment and violent religious extremism which create the conditions for violence,” he added.
Bishop Kukah’s message served as both a critique of government shortcomings and a rallying call for collective action towards a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.