“It is not the job of the Pope to decide how the corrupt Nigerian state addresses its problems,” he said.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has dismissed calls for an African Pope, insisting that the papal election is a spiritual process led by “the Holy Spirit,” not a political affair.
“Electing a Pope is not an ‘Emilokan’ scenario,” he said on Channels TV, cautioning against identity politics.
Referring to President Bola Tinubu’s presence at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration, Kukah called it “a moment of pride.” He stressed that the Vatican, a “massive moral space,” is not responsible for fixing Africa’s internal issues. “It is not the job of the Pope to decide how the corrupt Nigerian state addresses its problems,” he said.
Kukah added, “There’s nothing like an African Pope. You can have a Pope who is African, but not an African Pope.”
On Nigeria, he urged equal citizenship, noting, “Everyone must be equal before the same law.” He warned against politicising traditional leadership, saying, “We are riding a tiger, and I don’t know how we get off without ending up in its stomach.”