The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has called on Christians in Nigeria to remember their role as the light of the world.
In his Christmas message, Bishop Kukah emphasised that Christians must take responsibility for upholding moral values and cannot blame societal corruption solely on the Constitution, judiciary, police, or other public institutions.
“I appeal to Christians not to forget that we are the light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. We must not let the structural weaknesses and failures of the Nigerian state become an excuse for doing wrong,” he said. “We cannot continue to blame the Constitution, judiciary, or public servants for the corruption in our society.”
He explained that corruption stems from failing to honor the promises made at baptism, urging Christians to prioritize divine commandments over flawed human systems. “At baptism, we pledged fidelity to Christ, long before encountering the Constitution. While the Constitution is a human instrument with flaws, the Word of God is divine, perfect, and inerrant. Good Christians have God’s laws written in their hearts (2 Cor. 3:3) and need no other law,” Kukah stated.
Reflecting on the significance of Christmas, Bishop Kukah reminded Christians that the celebration symbolizes peace, joy, love, justice, and reconciliation, the core message of Jesus Christ. He warned against the increasing secularization of Christmas, which threatens to strip it of its spiritual essence.
“Christmas is increasingly being reduced to just another holiday or a commercial opportunity. We must heed Jesus’ warning that we cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). Today, our world is plagued by the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—leading to a loss of moral direction and widespread violence. The drums of war and death now threaten to overshadow the joy that Jesus brought into the world,” he lamented.
The bishop highlighted the ongoing violence in places like Gaza, contrasting the innocence of Jesus’ birth with the bloodshed now engulfing many parts of the world.
Kukah also called on Christians to use the Christmas season for personal reflection on the values and virtues of their faith.
While acknowledging some progress in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, he noted, “We are not out of the woods yet. A comprehensive plan with clear timelines is needed to secure our nation. Insecurity is deeply rooted in corruption. Addressing unemployment and violent religious extremism is crucial to curbing violence.”
He urged the government to enforce the law against extremists and prosecute perpetrators as criminals and murderers.
Reflecting on recent tragedies, including stampedes in Oyo State, Anambra, and Abuja, Kukah criticized the government’s failure to address hunger and desperation, which he said had created conditions for such avoidable incidents.
“It is the government’s duty to ensure a minimum standard of dignity for our people. Authorities must work closely with institutions that promote the common good,” he added.
Bishop Kukah concluded his message with prayers for the victims of these tragedies, asking God to grant them eternal rest and comfort their families.
