By Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has delivered a searing Easter message, warning that Nigeria is drifting dangerously amid “endless turbulence” and could face deeper crisis if urgent steps are not taken to restore trust and security.
In his 2026 Easter message on Sunday titled “Faith and Hope in Times of Turbulence,” Kukah painted a grim picture of a nation overwhelmed by insecurity, economic hardship, and failed leadership.
“Turbulence is Nigeria’s surname,” the cleric declared, describing the country as one trapped in a cycle of instability worsened by “self-generated turbulence by the local elites.”
‘Nation Becoming a Field Hospital’
The bishop said Nigeria’s security crisis has spiraled into a humanitarian disaster, with thousands killed, millions displaced, and communities shattered.
“After over 20 years and well over 20,000 corpses… the grim harvester still roams freely across the country,” he said.
“For now, our nation has become what the late Pope Francis referred to as a field hospital.”
Kukah warned that growing distrust in the military and government institutions is pushing desperate citizens into dangerous alliances.
“Years of fatigue have lured ordinary citizens into the treacherous embrace of bandits,” he said, noting that some now act as informants, “trading the future of their families and communities.”
‘Unredeemed Promises’ and Youth Despair
Turning to governance, Kukah accused Nigeria’s political elite of failing to deliver on promises, leaving millions in poverty and young people without hope.
“The Nigerian landscape is still riddled with unredeemed promissory notes,” he said.
“Unemployment is smothering the dreams of young people in the cradles of their hope.”
He criticized short-term relief measures, arguing they reflect deeper systemic failure.
“Merely distributing food… is an admission of the failure of our nation to develop robust and aggressive agricultural plans to end hunger.”
Despite the bleak outlook, Kukah urged Nigerians—especially Christians—to resist despair and remain steadfast in faith and moral responsibility.
“We may be struck down, but we cannot be destroyed,” he said, calling for a balance between self-defense and commitment to peace.
He also challenged citizens to play active roles in rebuilding the country rather than assigning blame.
“It is a great mistake for us to ignore what role each and every one of us can play,” he said.
“Let us not surrender to despair… we could become guilty bystanders.”
Drawing on biblical imagery, Kukah expressed hope that Nigeria can overcome its challenges through faith, unity, and collective action.
“The boat of our nation is threatening to sink… yet even in his sleep, he is awake to command the storm to be still,” he said.
He concluded with a call for both prayer and action:
“We pray but must work hard… our walls created by war… will fall.”
The message comes as Nigerians mark Easter amid persistent insecurity, rising living costs, and growing concerns over national cohesion.
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