Zangon Kataf — The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has said that the 2015 generation election was not about who would either win or not but about the one who would be ashamed of the state of the nation and do the right thing.

*Bishop Kukah

Kukah spoke at Ungwar Rana, Ashafa Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State during the burial of a retired military officer and community leader, Lt. Col. Christopher Waziri Zonkwa, who died at the age of 74, weekend.

The Bishop said it did not matter who emerged President after the elction as, according to him, Nigerians were interested in somebody who will address the problems facing them just as he lamented that “everything in this country (including election) is done by arrangement.’’

He blamed the country’s leaders for failing to move the country to the path of progress after over 50 years of independence.

According to him, it was regrettable that Nigerians were still talking about same issues after several years of nationhood.

His words: “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. This is a country where people steal and go to other countries to set up businesses and buy houses.

“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.

Everything done by arrangement

“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.”

On the late Lt. Col Zonkwa, Kukah described him as a principled man who served the military and his people well.

Also in their tributes, former Military Governor of Rivers State, Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot and his Kaduna State counterpart, Maj. Gen. Tanko Ayuba, retd, described late Zonkwa as a humble, resourceful and hard working officer.

Ayuba said: “I knew the late Lt. Col. Zonkwa since 1962 when we were serving together in the military. He was a private then and we grew together in rank in the Army.

“His hard work, loyalty and dexterity endeared him to many top military officers and commanders who he served under. His lifestyle in retirement was characterised by humility and hard work. His death is a big loss to the people of Kaduna State and the nation.”