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“Buhari is today the president of Nigeria. Nigerian president deserves all the respect. One of the problems of democracy is that whenever people think they have made mistakes, they have to wait for another four years”
Those were the words of the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah.
He spoke on Tuesday during a presentation on his book entitled: “Witness to Justice: An Insider’s Account of Nigeria’s Truth Commission” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The book chronicled his experience as a member of the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa-led Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up during the tenure of former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
The event held at the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), Bodija, Ibadan.
According to the priest, Nigerians should hold themselves responsible for the myriads of problems confronting the country instead of blaming a set of people, ethnic groups or certain individuals.
Advisong those who were not happy with President Muhammadu buhari’s leadership to wait till 2019 to take another electoral decision, Bishop Kukah wondered:
“But which president have Nigerians never disliked after voting for? The solution to our problem is not denigrating President Buhari. We just need to constantly engage those in authority in seeking ways to better the country.”
On the allegations of budget padding currently rocking the House of Representatives, Kukah said it was a call for Nigerians to be vigilant about activities of elected officers in order to bring them to accountability.
He added that such vigilance would help Nigerians make informed choices at the polls next time.
Sharing his experience as a member of the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa-led Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Kukah said he observed that every ethnic group in the country blamed others for their perceived woes with none realizing that we are all to be blamed for Nigeria’s troubles.
According to him, all ethnic groups feel wounded. But the same ethnics need to learn to work together truthfully for the well being of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the ISGPP, Dr Tunji Olaopa, said the programme was organized to help Nigerian youths cultivate reading habit and to bring writers closer to the people.