The Executive Director of the Kukah Centre, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, has revealed details of his recent conversation with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah regarding the ongoing controversy over claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military action against the country.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, Barkindo said Bishop Kukah believes the current situation presents Nigeria with a rare, God-given opportunity to confront some of its most difficult and long-avoided national questions.
According to Barkindo, the fiery debate over Trump’s comments should not distract Nigerians from the deeper issues of governance, national unity, and justice.
Recounting his discussion with Bishop Kukah, the Catholic priest said the Bishop described this period as a “God-given time” for Nigeria to have the hard conversations it has long postponed.
“I was mentioning it to Bishop Kukah, and he told me this period for Nigeria is a God-given period. It is a period for us to have the most difficult conversations that we have always avoided in the history of this country,” Barkindo said.
He noted that one of those questions concerns Nigeria’s dual legal systems — the Constitution and Sharia law — and the need for fairness and clarity in how the country defines itself as a secular state.
“So, for example, should Nigeria have two sets of law, the Constitution and the Sharia? Why can’t we have one and all of us comply with that, especially when this country claims to be secular?” he asked.
Barkindo added that Nigerians are tired of insecurity, poverty, and displacement. He described how many people displaced by violence have become regular faces in churches across the country.
“Sometimes when I go to my local church here for Mass every Sunday, I have to carry bags of food items because the church is filled with people who are internally displaced persons,” he said. “You cannot preach in the name of Jesus and then walk away, leaving them in the same hunger and the same social condition.”
Fr. Barkindo’s comments come amid strong international reactions to former President Trump’s recent statement accusing Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians. Trump also hinted at possible U.S. military intervention “to defend Christians.”
Trump’s comments have drawn widespread criticism both within Nigeria and abroad. American lawmakers, including Representative Gregory Meeks and Sara Jacobs, recently condemned the threat, calling it reckless and based on distorted facts.
In Nigeria, several groups, including Afenifere and Christian associations, have urged caution, warning that foreign intervention could worsen tensions and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Barkindo, however, took a more reflective stance. While he agreed that the killing of innocent people must stop, he urged Nigerians not to get distracted by the label “genocide.”
“You know, we don’t want to lay too much emphasis on the technical definition of genocide,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that lives have been lost.”
He highlighted that both Christians and Muslims have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists and bandits.
“We believe that the jihadists and the terrorists are killing both Christians and Muslims,” he explained. “Trump didn’t say Christians are killing Muslims or Muslims are killing Christians. Trump did not say he is coming to fight Muslims in Nigeria.”
Barkindo noted that if the Trump administration’s intention was truly to help Nigeria eliminate terrorism, it could be beneficial — but only if it respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and focuses on defeating extremist groups.
“If the intention of the Trump government is to come into this country to take out the terrorists, I think all of us as citizens will eventually benefit from that because the government hasn’t succeeded for 15 years,” he said. “Government after government, nothing has been done.”
Nigeria’s fight against terrorism began in 2009 with the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. Over the years, the group and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Despite billions spent on military operations, insecurity continues to spread, with bandit attacks now common in the northwest and central regions.
Many Nigerians have expressed frustration that successive governments have failed to end the violence, which has devastated communities, disrupted farming, and deepened poverty.
Fr. Barkindo urged Nigerians to respond to Trump’s comments with calm and maturity, not anger or division. He said the real focus should be on finding lasting solutions to insecurity and inequality, rather than reacting emotionally to outside criticism.
He described the current debate as an opportunity for “national soul-searching,” saying Nigerians across political and religious lines are already engaging in difficult but necessary conversations about the country’s future.
“It’s like we are all having a virtual conversation across the country, in the market, online, offline. People are really talking about this issue,” he said.
However, he warned that the moment could be wasted if the discussions end without concrete action.
“The risk we run is that this period may just come and pass as a very normal thing, and no strategic decision is taken as to how we can come out of the woods,” he said. “So it’s important we have this very difficult conversation.”
The Kukah Centre, founded by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, is a policy and leadership think-tank based in Abuja. It focuses on promoting dialogue, peacebuilding, and good governance in Nigeria.
Bishop Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has long been a prominent voice in Nigeria’s public discourse. He has often criticized corruption, inequality, and poor governance while calling for unity and justice among Nigeria’s diverse communities.
Through the Kukah Centre, he has brought together leaders from different religions and ethnic groups to discuss national challenges and promote peaceful coexistence.
Barkindo, as the Centre’s Executive Director, has been involved in several peace and interfaith initiatives across northern Nigeria, especially in communities affected by insurgency and conflict.
As Nigeria faces growing insecurity, economic hardship, and political tension, many analysts agree that the country stands at a crossroads.
Fr. Barkindo’s remarks reflect a growing belief that Nigeria must seize this moment to confront deep structural problems—ranging from weak governance to unequal development—before they spiral out of control.
“The country has been struggling for too long,” one Abuja-based analyst said. “This is not just about religion; it’s about justice, fairness, and leadership.”
For Barkindo, the message is clear: the debate over Trump’s remarks should not distract Nigeria from fixing its internal problems. Instead, it should push the nation toward honest reflection and reform.
“This is an important period for Nigeria,” he said. “We must not let it pass without making the hard decisions needed to rebuild our country.”
