Bishop Kukah Rejects ‘Emilokan’ Mentality In Papal Elections, Criticized Political, Traditional Institutions

SOKOTO, SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA – In a stirring interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese offered sobering insights into global religious leadership and Africa’s place within it.

Speaking just after the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Kukah emphasized that the papacy cannot be reduced to regional entitlement. “Electing a pope is not an ‘Emilokan’ scenario,” he said, referring to the Yoruba term meaning “it’s my turn.”

Kukah cautioned Africans against projecting political sentiments onto spiritual matters. “Let’s win the World Cup first,” he said with candor, pushing back against recurring calls for an African Pope. “You can’t say, ‘These people have had their turn, now it’s ours.’ It doesn’t work like that.”

He painted a vivid picture of the Vatican as a “moral compass” and political meeting ground – a space where enemies may share pews and handshake diplomacy thrives. Yet, he stressed that Africa’s influence on the global stage hinges not on symbolic representation but on substance, preparation, and moral authority.

On Nigeria’s internal challenges, Kukah was unsparing. He addressed the country’s failure to separate religion from politics, saying, “The Nigerian state… has not had the political will to put religion where it ought to be.”

He criticized both political and traditional institutions for blurring spiritual boundaries without accountability, adding to the confusion and complexity of governance in Nigeria.

Kukah also touched on the deep-rooted historical tensions in Northern Nigeria, emphasizing that understanding today’s conflicts requires confronting the colonial dismantling of traditional Islamic power structures.

Ultimately, the bishop’s message was a call to maturity – spiritually, politically, and nationally. Africa must aim not just for symbolic victories but for tangible growth, unity, and credibility. As Kukah poignantly put it, “You can have a Pope who is an African, but you can’t have an African Pope.”