According to Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Nigeria didn’t do anything noteworthy in 2022.
The Bishop, who bemoaned that the country’s situation is worse but that the future may be determined by making the right choice, also asserted that Nigerians should not be focused on holding a second round of voting to choose the victor of the 2023 presidential election.
A possible rerun of the 2023 election, according to Kukah, is not what Nigerians need. Instead, the focus should be on how to hold a successful, free, and fair election that ushers in competent leaders.
“The incoming government is yet to come, but I think all Nigerians now have to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if we are better off now than before.
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“As we are entering the new year, we must look at one of the greatest moments not only in world history but also as they pertain to Nigeria. I mean how many phases of our national life (in 2022) can we proudly want to remember with a lot of joy and celebration?
“The people of Morocco, for instance, will look at how they beat Brazil in the World Cup. So it is left for Nigerians to ask how they feel about the year that has gone, but the future is now in our hands.”
In order to elect trustworthy leaders, Kukah stated the initial focus should be on how to conduct a successful, free, and fair election.
He asserts that discussions regarding a potential rerun in the 2023 election are only serving to inflame the political climate, which is not what Nigerians need.
“Hopefully, and prayerfully, we will have another round of elections and our hope is that we will have elections that are free from violence, and free from manipulation. The process now is a little bit clearer from what we are hearing from INEC.
“I think the biggest challenge for us now is that we have elections that are free, fair and credible and we are able to live the results that it produces.
“Let us run first before we talk about re-rerun. We just hope that the elections will be free fair and credible, so a winner will emerge.
“I don’t think we should begin to talk about the possibility of a rerun or whatever because we are just heating up the system. I think we should just assume that we are going to have an election and a winner will emerge,”
