Will Matthew Hassan Kukah Ever Die One Day? Tellwell Newspaper

Will Matthew Hassan Kukah Ever Die One Day? Tellwell Newspaper

By Idang Alibi
Not to celebrate a man like Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese who turns 70 today, would be akin to what the Catholics themselves would describe as a double barrel sin of commission and omission. I will commit the sin by omitting to do it no matter the very good excuse I have that an affliction, which, though, does not seem one of long continuance has come upon me, which I shall give account later, that has rendered me unable to sit, bend my back, stretch my hand and write. I have had to struggle to even adopt some stooping position to even dictate this for my son, Godspower Idang Idang Alibi Junior, to computerize for me because it is a task that ought to be done.

In a cultural setting where death,, a certain thing, is spoken in hushed tones, in euphemism and reverential fear, the heading of this piece of mine may jar certain nerves. Some readers may even think that I am a secret or even daring ‘’Government hater’’ of Bishop Kukah who harbours some ill thought for the reverend gentleman. Calm down for I entertain no such thought for Kukah or anyone else on earth, seeing that I have neither the power nor the inclination to take anyone’s life. But if my alarming title draws your attention to read this tribute, written under very excruciating pains, to celebrate a truly great man of the world born in Nigeria who deserves to be celebrated, my goal is happily achieved!

This type of question of mine of asking whether certain persons will ever die one day like all mortals, started in my growing up years in my village, Gakem, in northern CRS. It was an admixture of childish naivety, deep admiration and love for the subject I ask such question about . It also comprised an impotent and foolish wish that such a personality, who is much loved, should not die. It is unfair, I reason to myself: Why will such a person ever die and live blackmailers, trouble- makers, liars, murderers, looters, instigators of violence, and those who hate the truth, those who do not want a good society to stay here and enjoy the earth? That was the ‘’philosophical’ underpinning behind my vocalising such question. It may sound childish but it follows a logic of its own.
I began this type of childish inquiry when I grew up in the late 60s and early 70s to meet one Mark Ogar from my village who was our community leader and guide. Mark was a Grade Two teacher and was very famous and well spoken of by every body in the community and beyond Some of us children used to think of him as someone who lived on a diet of only eggs, the rarest delicacy of our days we incidentally associated with Bishop Kukah and his fellow Catholic priests serving on the altar of God!

In my child’s eyes, I was wondering whether this type of man should ever die instead of continuing to live forever to give of his goodness to his society. Even as an adult now, I still wonder whether certain good men and women should be ‘’allowed’’ to die one day. One of such impactful men is Bishop Kukah.

God has given Bishop Kukah something. No. He has not given him only one thing. He has given him two mighty abilities containing many other abilities. The first is the raw power to work; to hop in and out of aeroplanes to go to his many theatres of war; the ability to organise his thoughts into a coherent whole sometimes at very short notice which means he is always thinking; the ability to interact and influence a horde of people; the ability to keep his head when all around him are losing theirs and anarchy threatens and many other abilities too numerous to mention here.
The second great ability endued him by God is the one of saying the truth in a very truthful way in a manner that is not too offensive to any reasonable person because he tells his truth at the right or appropriate time, in a way it should be told to an audience that needs to hear that truth. These are the three great qualities of truth telling which my friend, Mahmud Jega, himself a repository of wisdom, told me I should bear in mind when I am embarking on my truth telling.

Bishop Kukah is of the mould of the Biblical Prophet Isaiah. These are priests and prophets who saunter in and out of presidential palaces and parliamentary buildings and caucuses. Yet, they are not afflicted by the corruption of courts and lobby merchants.

Bishop Kukah is one of those personalities the French people describe as an engage writer, a convinced activist who is engaged in the passionate struggle for the redefinition of his society. He is not a romantic writer who writes in rhyming couplets or cadences about the climate, the moon and the stars and about the mystery of the love relationship between man and woman in which an indescribable emotion curses through one’s heart on beholding the loved one.

He is an actively engaged man in the redemption of Nigeria. He speaks with the voice of a patriot and a prophet. He speaks with the candour of a priest, he is unafraid of any harm to his person, any society that has this type of personality is blessed; with the self-confidence of an incurable optimist. He is a prophet whose voice may be disputed every now and then but no one ever violently, in good conscience, disagrees with him over his prescriptions for the well-being of Nigeria. He is the type of distant uncle you hear about and wish people know he is your sibling because you are proud of him, he is the type of citizen you will want to represent you, if you are yourself not a crook.

Southern Kaduna gave Nigeria two well known intellectual giants: Dr Obadiah Mailafia and the Bishop Kukah we are talking about here. One died last year in suspicious circumstances. This surviving one will not go the way of his younger brother. He will be here a very long time to help and guide Nigeria to her ultimate glory.

Congrats Bishop Kukah! Your mother and father born you well. 70 hearty cheers to the likeable Bishop .