Kukah Faces Criticisms over Alleged Shift on Claims of Religious Persecution
The esteemed Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, finds himself under intense scrutiny over what many are calling a notable shift in his stance concerning the purported persecution of Christians within Nigeria. Prominent activist, Dr. Thompson Udenwa, issued a statement in Abuja yesterday, calling attention to what he perceives as contradictions in Bishop Kukah’s recent utterances, which seem to diverge from his prior fervent advocacy for heightened international intervention regarding Nigeria’s rampant religious intolerance and the violent assaults on Christian congregations.
Udenwa reminisced that several years prior, Bishop Kukah was a vocal advocate urging the United States Government to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in light of harrowing reports of church incendiary events, targeted homicides, and acts of violence directed at Christian demographics in the Northern and Middle Belt regions.
Nonetheless, he conveyed disquiet over what he termed the cleric’s recent statements, deeming them reflective of a troubling “inconsistency that ought not to characterize the principled stances of political and religious leaders.”
Udenwa articulated, “It is perplexing that the same bishop who in 2021 addressed the American Congress, lamenting the Buhari administration’s purported neglect regarding Christian persecution, is now advocating against the very measures he once hailed as morally imperative. Such a stark reversal undermines the integrity of religious advocacy and suggests that Bishop Kukah’s perspectives are more swayed by political currents than by unwavering principles.”
Udenwa’s remarks were catalyzed by Bishop Kukah’s discourse at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom, an event held on October 21, 2025, at the distinguished Augustinianum Hall in Vatican City.
During the occasion, Bishop Kukah acknowledged the formidable security and governance obstacles Nigeria faces, yet he urged the international community to refrain from imposing sanctions or diplomatically isolating the nation.
While recognizing the cleric’s emphasis on dialogue, Udenwa contended that such a stance may inadvertently encourage authorities to persist in evading accountability for the persistent brutalities waged against faith-based communities.
He firmly asserted that religious leaders must embody “consistency and selflessness in their advocacy,” emphasizing that “truth must be upheld irrespective of the political power dynamics at play.”
