By Lekan Sote
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.
Ref: http://www.punchng.com/opinion/viewpoint/will-bukola-saraki-ever-be-nigerias-president/
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