By Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
Mathew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, says Nigeria’s culture is hostile to all the ingredients of democracy, noting that the call for restructuring is call for renewal of vows among the various nationalities that constitute the country.
He said restructuring would provide the country with an opportunity to discuss the mistakes that have been made in the past and also provide opportunity to discuss things that would strengthen the unity of the country.
Kukah made this known at the unveiling and public presentation of a book titled “We can’t all be wrong (Nigeria and the Restructuring Debate), written by Ethelbert Okere.
The Bishop who also doubled as the chairman of the occasion noted that those that are against restructuring want the status quo to remain because it is feeding them and keeping them safe.
His words: “I find it striking when people come to renew their vow, they are doing it in order to confirm and also appreciate what life has been. They would accept the scars, the would accept the injuries, they would accept their tears, but they would also know that the fact that they are still physically together is something to thank God for,”
“For me that is the metaphor to accommodating what we called restructuring. And those who feel threatened by the possible break up of Nigeria, it means that they are the ones we should actually be worried about, because they actually may have had no emotional commitment to this country. They just want to use us for something because it is feeding them and it is keeping them healthy,” he said.
“I think the rest of us want to renew our commitment. There are mistakes that we have made, let us be courageous to correct those mistakes, for me this is what the conversation is all about. We are citizens of free country, we must be, we should be free to say things that we strengthen our bond of unity,” Kukah said.
He lamented that,“our culture is hostile to all the ingredients of democracy. So, it is understandable that when you come out of a culture of ‘rankandede’ let me put it that way with due respect, it is difficult for us to appreciate what is a vital component of democracy-‘voice’”
“What we are doing is what we wanted to do when the military was out of power. But there are some people in Nigeria who believe that they can not only moderate what we have to say but what we think is not in keeping with the spirit of democracy.
“So, no matter how wide our spirit may be, democracy is a market place for ideas. So, we should not actually be at a point which people say they are for or against restructuring. In keeping with the spirit or why we are where we are. We are only doing what we are legitimately entitled. But I think that Nigerians think the only right we can expressed is a right through the ballot box. Even that right is in jeopardy, we can vote but we can’t choose,” he stressed.