The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has described Nigeria as a "field of death" in a lengthy Easter message titled 'Faith and Hope in Times of Turbulence'. Delivering the message on Sunday, Kukah painted a bleak picture of the country, citing insecurity, economic hardship, and leadership failures. He referenced over 20,000 deaths in more than two decades, stating, "After over 20 years and well over 20,000 corpses, the grim harvester still roams freely across the country." Kukah blamed Nigeria's political elite for creating "self-generated turbulence" and failing to deliver on campaign promises, leaving many young people hopeless.
He criticised the government's reliance on food distribution, particularly rice handouts linked to President Bola Tinubu's son, Seyi, through the City Boy Movement. Kukah said such gestures are "an admission of the failure" to build sustainable agricultural systems. Once a vocal supporter of Tinubu since his appointment as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, Kukah previously defended the administration, stating in 2024 that "one year is not enough to make a judgement." Now, he warns the nation is drifting toward deeper crisis, urging citizens not to become "guilty bystanders." He invoked biblical imagery, saying, "The boat of our nation is threatening to sink, yet even in His sleep, He is awake to command the storm to be still."
