The Kukah Centre (TKC), has said that statements by its founder, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah on freedom of conscience, religion, and worship in Nigeria, particularly, as it affects adherents of the Christian faith in Northern Nigeria and related concerns about persecution of Christians, have been taken out of context.

The Executive Director of The Kukah Centre, Fr. Atta Barkindo, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja

Atta said: “The Kukah Centre has followed with humility and keen attention, recent reports about remarks attributed to our founder, His Lordship, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, concerning the very current issue of the protection – or lack thereof – of the right to freedom of conscience, religion, and worship in Nigeria, particularly, as it affects adherents of the Christian faith in Northern Nigeria and related concerns about persecution of Christians.

“TKC is heartened by the heightened public interest in both the subject matter of religious freedom in Nigeria and in the views of our founder on the subject. As such, TKC wishes to provide this statement in the light of reporting which has clearly mis-characterised the views and remarks of his Lordship through selective attributions that reflect neither the text of his remarks nor the context and body of his work over a period of half a century.

“These reports have emanated in connection with, first, the comments by His Lordship at the launch of the 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom, delivered at the Vatican City on 21 October, 2025; and, second, his remarks to the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna on 28 November, 2025.

“For the avoidance of doubt, at no point has His Lordship diminished the seriousness of the crisis of faith-based persecution in parts of Nigeria nor has he failed to identify with the very real sufferings caused by it.”

Atta further said indeed, the contrary is the case.

“In paragraph 5 of his 13-paragraph remarks to the event in the Vatican on 21 October, His Lordship said among other things as follows: “what is important is not to create the Impression that we have no problems. We do have serious problems but these have escalated because the federal and state governments have, over the years allowed these problems to fester. The inability of the federal government and its security agencies to end these killings has created the condition for the genocide that has taken over many communities today. By whatever names we choose, the fact is that Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country. In many cases, they are targeted because of their beliefs, but also because of their ethnicity.”

“His position could hardly have been clearer. The remarks attributed to His Lordship in the latter event clearly again mis-characterised his thrust. At the St. Mulumba Convention in Kaduna, His Lordship highlighted the long history of persecution of Christians going back to the Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the fate that befell most of his disciples, and sought to encourage Christian communities in faith, solidarity, justice, and healing, even in these trying times. The text & structure of the clearly indicates that His Lordship sought to validate the persecution of Christians rather than to diminish or deny it.

‘These – faith, solidarity, Justice, and healing – are goals to which His Lordship has made a life-long commitment and in whose pursuit, he yields to no one,” Atta added.

He further said in order to encourage accurate and coherent reporting of the remarks of Bishop Kukah and to discourage the misattributions that appear to now persist, TKC is making the speeches available on its website so that they can be accessed by anyone interested.

“TKC continues to urge zero tolerance for religious persecution; solidarity with the victims and affected communities; and accountability for the perpetrators,” Atta also said. (The Sun)

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