Blessed Are The Rich And Powerful?

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

By Pius Adesanmi.

Father Emmanuel Ojeifo, when next you see our elder and mutual friend, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, please tell him that I am extremely displeased with his recent pastoral visit to Dasuki's high-profile financial laureates - Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Reuben Abati. He went to ensure that the detainees are comfortable and in high spirits. Tell him that I made my displeasure public. I am very unhappy. This is no time to be sending certain kinds of messages.

I have been in the Catholic faith my whole life so I know a thing or two about the symbolic uses of pastoral visits - beyond the spiritual essence of same. To deploy such visits in the service of political VIPs is in bad taste. The Catholic clergy would normally use such visits to shore up the spirit of humble and repentant prisoners or indicted detainees. And such visits are often to the lowly, the poor, and the weak for a reason.

There is a reason Pope Francis went to wash the feet of poor prisoners in Rome's Rebibbia prison last year. Italy has lots of corrupt political crooks. The Pope could have gone to inspect and ensure that they are detained in five-star facilities and to report to the world that such VIPs were "looking cheerful".

Again, I do not think that Catholic clergy should be anywhere near anything that could be perceived as solidarity visits to political recidivists. If Obanikoro, Fani-Kayode, and Abati are in need of a pastoral visit, Bishop Kukah should please allow their brother, Pastor Femi Aribisala, to take care of things on that side. They also have Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. And Pastor Wendell Simlin. That clan has no shortage of in-house men of God. Let these Pastors take care of their own flock, abeg!

Nigeria can be very frustrating in terms of preferential treatment for the elite. While Bishop Kukah was visiting VIPs instead of visiting nameless and unknown Nigerians usually detained without trial for years for petty misdemeanors, Mr. Ahmed Raji, (SAN), counsel to Dasuki, was busy arguing today that a political solution should be reached in the case of his client because of "the calibre of people involved".

That is a lawyer and a SAN arguing in broad daylight in Nigeria that the law should treat the rich and the powerful differently. When they steal, they should face political settlement as opposed to the poor who should face criminal trial fire.

If I had my way, Mr. Ahmed Raji's SAN citation would be auctioned and the proceeds used to send him back to 100-Level in any Nigerian University teaching civics. Shior.