Bishop Kukah speaks on building a good society from the point of view of constitutional governance and how it fits into religion. The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto spoke of the temptation of assuming that religion is a problem during the Inaugural lecture today. The real problem is when other issues are left unattended. We must appreciate all the temptations and trials the people of Kenya have gone through.
The idea of tyranny of numbers and victory. That arrogance that characterized victories. Numbers are very important but only important up to a point. The challenge is how you aggregate these numbers for national development. We Africans must wake up to the threat posed by the emergence of illiberal democracy. For about 20 years, this word was not talked about, but now it is the vocabulary of political science. There is a resurgence of democracy that looks like democracy but doesn’t work like a democracy. They conduct elections that have judiciary and political parties, but in the final analysis, they are in the halfway house between the values of democracy and dictatorship and tyranny.
Bishop Kukah and Vice President-Elect
During the delivery, Bishop Kukah acknowledges the VICE President-Elect. He appreciates the dept of his intellect and capacity to process lots of issues on the table. So many people, including Christians, will be disappointed that I stand here. This is because there have been lots of issues based on the fact that we are dealing with Muslim-Muslim candidates. Even though, as Nigerians, we want people who love and cherish us to govern us. The people who understand the principles of management of diversity. We should not be nervous about the future.
How to build a good society is not a complicated thing. As Nigerians, we are better together. Everybody knows that we are better together. The question is, WHO ARE WE? I don’t believe there is a religious problem. Although, the Western and Nigerian Media and the political elite have assumed that there is a conflict between religions.
Using the illustration of a couple in a house:
Assuming you come back from work and your spouse is in the kitchen and comes out with a knife in her back with which she was slicing onions, you will have no problem entering the house. But if you fought with your spouse before you left the house and, you returned to see your her with a knife, you will pull back.
The problem is not the knife; it’s what you do with it. So, Identities are not the problem; it’s how you activate those identities and what you do with them. Nigeria is a complex country of great possibilities. Managing diversity in society is a science. No COuntry, Business, family or organization has a future if you don’t figure out how to manage diversity.
Lastly, Religion has been turned into a weapon. It’s a weapon of choice for Politics and Politicians. This is a danger and challenge for religious leaders.
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