By Tina George, Minna
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Niger state, Mr Jonathan Vatsa has said that Bishop Mathew Kukah should not be prosecuted over his Christmas message to Nigerians.
Vatsa, who is the coordinator on public affairs to governor Abubakar Sani Bello, stated this in a statement titled, “When shall we accept the truth” in Minna on Saturday.
He said that the clergyman spoke the truth and was even mild in what he said, adding that the country is worst than it was six years ago.
He said that it is high time the federal government and its political ‘contractors’ accept the truth that is being said by people who are concerned about the state of the nation.
“It is unfortunate that some “political contractors” are picking holes on what Bishop Kukah said. All the issues raised by Bishop Kukah are the whole truth and nothing but the truth. What he said was the sincere assessment of the present situation in the country. In my opinion, the country is worst than it was six years ago,” Vatsa stated.
Also a former Publicity Secretary for the APC, he expressed disappointment over the behaviour of the Federal government.
He added that instead of analysing Bishop Kukah’s assessment of the situation in the country and proffer solutions to them, the Federal government and its “paid contractors” were busy picking holes and politicizing the genuine and sincere observations.
He urged the government to always have a heart of accepting genuine criticism with the objective of making a change.
Vatsa stressed that any serious government would use such criticisms to correct its mistakes and forge ahead.
He called on the Federal government and the Arewa youths to leave the clergyman alone and look at ways of addressing the issues raised on the state of the nation in the Christmas message.
Speaking about the security situation in the country, Vatsa stated that the country is experiencing its worst security scenario since independence.
“The security situation in the country today is worst since independence. The entire country is under siege from criminal elements with the worst scenario in the north. Travelling to any part of the North is like passing a death sentence on yourself”.
He lamented that Niger state is having its share of insecurity as every farmland have been turned into burial grounds.
“Niger state has lost its pride name of food basket of the nation to the home of bandits”.
