In a stirring and deeply reflective address, Matthew Hassan Kukah delivered a blunt moral challenge to Nigeria’s lawmakers, questioning the silence and hesitation of leadership at critical moments in the nation’s history.
Speaking at the commissioning of the National Assembly Christain Chapell Kukah moved beyond ceremonial pleasantries and confronted what he described as the urgent need for decisive and value-driven governance.
“What are we waiting for?” he asked pointedly. “When danger rises, when injustice spreads, when confusion fills the land — why is the Senate silent? What is the purpose of leadership if we cannot act when the nation needs us most?”
The cleric framed his message not as a political critique, but as a moral appeal.
He reminded lawmakers that their positions were not accidents of power, but privileges granted by grace and accompanied by solemn responsibility.
“To serve in the National Assembly is not simply political success — it is a moral responsibility,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with societies abroad, Kukah noted that Nigerians often admire order, discipline and accountability when they travel overseas, yet struggle to replicate those same standards at home. He urged legislators to reflect on the disconnect between professed faith and public conduct.
“Faith must not only be preached. It must be practiced,” he declared.
In one of the most compelling moments of his speech, Kukah emphasized the significance of the words “Our Father” in the Lord’s Prayer, arguing that leadership must always reflect collective responsibility rather than personal ambition.
“That word — ‘our’ — reminds us that leadership is about community. It is about embracing even those who disagree with us,” he said. “If we exclude others, how can we call them family?”
He further challenged lawmakers to craft legislation that protects not only their supporters, but also the poor, the vulnerable and those outside their political circles.
“The laws we make must defend the forgotten,” he insisted.
Kukah concluded with a model prayer he said every legislator should adopt — one asking for wisdom, integrity, courage and the strength to make difficult decisions even when they conflict with party interests or personal gain.
“Power is temporary,” he warned. “Accountability before God is eternal.”
His remarks, delivered with a blend of pastoral calm and prophetic urgency, resonated as both encouragement and admonition — a reminder that beyond party lines and parliamentary procedure lies a higher call to conscience.
As Nigeria grapples with complex political and socio-economic challenges, Kukah’s message placed the spotlight squarely on the moral weight of leadership — urging those in power to move beyond rhetoric and act with courage for the common good.