Christmas message: Ortom asks Buhari to disregard sycophants and listen to words of wisdom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has told President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the words of wisdom contained in the Christmas day message by Sokoto Diocese Bishop, Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The Governor in a statement on Wednesday noted that Bishop Kukah spoke the truth which is a reflection of current happenings in the country and the mind of most Nigerians.
Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase declared that those attacking Kukah over the statement are only sycophants who don’t want the President to see reality.
He also described as unfair the barrage of verbal attacks that have followed the message from the cleric, calling on the federal government not to muzzle “patriotic Nigerians who are raising genuine concerns over the worsening security situation in the country because all is not well”.
Governor Ortom went ahead to describe Bishop Kukah as a selfless Nigerian who is interested in seeing things get better in the country.
He, therefore, urged the Buhari-led administration to descend from its high horse, listen to the voice of caution and heed the recommendations in the Christmas day message by the Bishop.
The Governor opined that it is expected of leaders to listen to the opinion of the people whom they represent in public offices rather than see anyone with a contrary opinion as an enemy of the government.
He noted that Bishop Kukah is not the first person to call government attention to issues in the country, hence the need for the leaders to see it as a call to respond to the challenges facing the country and its citizens.
Ortom lamented that aside from economic challenges and hardships, many Nigerians are being killed in cold blood by bandits, kidnappers, armed herdsmen, and other terrorists, urging the federal government to rise up to the occasion and address the situation.
Ngnews247.com recalls Bishop Kukah in his 2020 Christmas message titled, ‘A nation in search of vindication’, on Friday, 25th December claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government owes Nigerians an explanation as to where the country is heading to.
The cleric while lamenting the security, economic, and other challenges being faced by citizens, also noted that there could have been a coup or war if a non-Northern Muslim had emerged as the President of this country.
His submission however did not sit well with the federal government and some others who alleged his statement was inciting and capable of causing trouble in the land.
The Bishop was accused by the federal government of calling for an overthrow of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The accusation was made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement titled, ‘FG Urges Religious Leaders To Eschew Message of Disharmony’, in reaction to Kukah’s Christmas message.
Amidst the various reactions to his message, Ngnews247.com reports the Bishop has denied calling for a coup or using his message to gain political relevance, submitting that his message on Christmas day was based on his love for the country.