Kukah: No Nigerian President Has Given Memorable Speech Since 1960

Kukah: No Nigerian President Has Given Memorable Speech Since 1960

 

 

 

Sokoto Diocese Catholic Bishop, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has lamented that no Nigerian president has delivered a speech with the same impact as the one given at independence in 1960.

 

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, Kukah said Nigeria has consistently failed to articulate a unifying national vision.

 

“Nation building thrives on mythology and visions that stir the collective imagination,” he said, citing the “American Dream” as an example of a compelling national narrative.

 

Kukah criticized Nigeria’s military leaders for stifling intellectual engagement in governance, arguing that this prevented the growth of ideas necessary for a stronger nation.

 

“Nation building is about mythology, not just reality. America today is a myth—the American Dream. But Nigeria has not had the capacity to create such a dream,” he said.

 

He added: “Close your eyes and ask yourself: after the 1960 speech, is there any Nigerian presidential speech that made you feel ‘wow’? Or one as memorable as J.F. Kennedy’s 1963 address that makes you recall exactly where you were when it was delivered?

 

“That reflects the intellectual content of governance. Once soldiers found they could not win intellectual arguments, they suppressed discourse. They didn’t allow intellect to dominate. People ended up teaching what they were not paid to teach.”

 

Kukah’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about national unity and the quality of leadership in Nigeria.