The Catholic Church received a substantial part of the blame for the Rwandan war and genocide due to the misguided utterances and roles played by a number of Catholic priests in that country. At the time, ordinary Rwandans thought those Catholic clerics were speaking on their behalf but that was not entirely true. Instead, by their misguided utterances, they added more to an already volatile and tensed situation in the country. When war broke out, most of those Catholic priests fled safely to Europe. Majority of them are still walking freely in Europe, notably France, today.
As they say in Portuguese, història repete-se (history is repeating itself). I know, like several millions of other Nigerians, that the situation in this country is far from ideal or perfect. Security is very poor and a lot more needs to be done. However, the last thing we need at this time in Nigeria is for the likes of Bishop Kukah to be making misguided comments in the name of speaking out against societal ills and government failings.
Had Bishop Kukah presented himself well and given a good account of himself previously, relative to the revered office he holds as a Catholic Bishop, he would not find it difficult to engage with any government in power without being accused of compromise. He would speak authoritatively and the government would listen. But sadly, he may be a bishop but he is also one that is utterly compromised. His hands are soiled with filthy lucre especially from the last administration. Hence, his words are no longer reverential and as weighty as they should be ordinarily. But how many nigerians realise this?
Now, the only alternative to remain relevant is to be the antagonistic voice against the government, albeit in an incendiary way. I only hope and pray that the current crises does not snowball into full blown calamity before we realise that those sounding as “voices of the masses” today are actually doing more harm than good. May God bless the likes of The Rev. Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou of Central African Republic for the mature roles they played in bringing peace to their own country, in spite of the war that nearly ravaged the place.