Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, has described US President Donald Trump as “a symptom of the disease in Nigeria,” saying the country must wake up to its deep-seated challenges.
Kukah made the remarks on Friday in Lagos during the 60th birthday celebration of Reuben Abati and the public presentation of his three new books.
The US president recently redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ over claims of Christian persecution, warning that failure to act could trigger military action and a halt to US aid. Trump reportedly said there would be “hell to pay” if the violence against Christians continued.
Addressing the development, Kukah said Trump’s statement serves as a “wake-up call” for Nigerian leaders. He urged political and intellectual stakeholders to confront the nation’s challenges and seek lasting solutions.
“So, if you find us being chaotic, quarrelsome, angry, whatever, we are in Nigeria. We lack the culture, institutional framework, and moral foundation to establish order,” Kukah said.
“All of us are confusing Trump with a sickness. Trump is a symptom of the disease in our country. Whether it is Trump or anyone else giving us this jab, it is time for Nigeria to wake up,” he added.
Kukah also criticised Nigeria’s weak tourism infrastructure and lack of national monuments, highlighting broader issues of national identity and pride.
“If somebody wants to visit this country today, where will I take them? In other countries, you can visit the president’s office, historic sites, or monuments, but in Nigeria, you cannot,” he said.
The cleric further lamented the absence of unifying figures whose names resonate positively across the country.
“Who are the prominent Nigerians whose names resonate across the length and breadth of Nigeria without contradiction?” he asked.