Presidency reacts to ongoing tussle between Bishop Kukah and Muslims
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Garba Shehu, has condemned calls by the Muslim Solidarity Forum in Sokoto State that Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah should apologize or leave Sokoto State over his supposed “malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims”.
The forum had told Bishop Kukah to tender an unreserved apology to the Muslim Ummah over his Christmas message to Nigerians or leave Sokoto State.
But in response, Kukah said he was ready to apologize only if he was shown any part of his Christmas sermon that insulted Islam.
Reacting, Garba Shehu in a statement on Wednesday said that the reported ultimatum given by the group is wrong because it is not in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, under Nigeria’s constitution, every citizen has the right to, among others, freedom of speech and expression, the right to own property and reside in any part of the country, and the right to move freely without any inhibitions.
Shehu further urged Father Kukah to respect the feelings of his fellow Nigerians in his private and public utterances.