By BENNETH JOSHUA, Abuja

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Catholic Arc. Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah over a recent statement in which he reportedly suggested the use of violent methods for regime change.

The group described Kukah’s statement as unguarded and an open incitement to military coup and insurrection against the democratically elected government of Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima on Monday, AYCF condemned “Kukah’s use of nepotism as weapon of calumny against government and people of Nigeria.”

This is as it called on the Federal Government to place Kukah on special watch list for attempts to “set the South against the North in order to destabilize our country and further complicate matters.”

In the statement Shettima, also took exception to what he described as “Kukah’s latest role in devil’s advocacy, as the North struggles to restore peace and enduring security in the region and indeed Nigeria.”

According to the group, “such a reckless statement by Kukah betrays something much more sinister against both the North and the nation as a whole because Nigeria is at a stage that it requires responsible advice for attaining peace and stability, not deliberate attempt to mischievously compound our problems.

“If Kukah wants to play politics, he should not do so in the pulpit and he should keep the Bishop’s office aside and chose any Nigerian political party platform to contest President in 2023 and stop all the pretences.”

It reminded Kukah of the rough road tread by democracy heroes to rid the nation of military dictatorship at a time when he was nowhere in sight.

“We will not allow opportunists who did make any contribution to scuttle the democracy achieved through the our sweat and toil and the sacrifice of our liberty,” Shettima said in the statement. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Independent)

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