The type of President Nigerians need-Kukah

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has said that the forthcoming presidential elections should not be about who wins, but a winner who will be ashamed of the state of the Nigerian nation and do the right thing to fix the bad situation.

Bishop Kukah spoke at the weekend during a funeral ceremony of a prominent community leader and a retired military officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Waziri Zonkwa which held at the weekend in Ungwar Rana, Ashafa Ikulu Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state.

He said it did not matter who becomes the President, stressing that Nigerians will be interested in somebody who will address the problems facing them as citizens of the country.

He said it was unfortunate that 50 years after, Nigerians were still talking about the same issues that are facing the country and blame the leaders for their failure to move the nation to the path of progress.

Bishop Kukah stated, “This is a country where people steal and go to other countries to set up businesses and buy houses. The issue of 2015 elections is not about who wins, but it is about somebody who is ashamed of the state of the Nigerian nation and strives to do the right thing.

“The things that Nigerians are doing today, especially politicians, are responsible for why things are not working. We must ask ourselves why we are still talking about the same issues 40, 50 years after.

“The election is not about prayers alone, it is about whether politicians can understand that politics is about service and allow free and fair elections to hold.

“Whether the country will stand or fall, depends on whether the politicians will stop their greed. We cannot go on like this as a country.

“Everything in this country is done by arrangement; there is no how we can make progress when everything is done by arrangement.

“Nigeria is the only country that does not think and plan for the future, all the developed countries think and plan 10 years ahead. For instance if America hears of happenings in other parts of the world, they think of how it is going to affect the Americans and begin to plan ahead”.

The clergy man described the late military officer who passed on at the age of 74 as a principled and person who served the military and his people very well.

Also, paying tribute, former military governor of Kaduna state, Maj. Gen. Tanko Ayuba (rtd) and former military governor of Rivers state, Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot described the late Zonkwa as a humble, resourceful and hardworking person.

Recalling, their days in the army, Gen. Ayuba said “I know the late Lt. Col. Christopher Waziri Zonkwa since 1962 when we were serving together in the military. He was a private soldier and we grew together in rank in the Army.

“His hardwork, loyalty and dexterity endeared him to many top military officers and commanders who he served”.