The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on Nigerians to stop identifying him as a “Hausa man,” emphasizing the need for a more accurate understanding of the country’s diverse ethnic identities.
Speaking at a recent public event, the vocal cleric and human rights advocate clarified that while he hails from the northern region, he belongs to the Tyap ethnic group in Kaduna State, not the Hausa tribe. He argued that the broad categorization of all Northern Christians or residents as “Hausa” erases the unique heritage of minority groups.
”I am not a Hausa man. I have said this repeatedly, but people find it convenient to group everyone from the North under one label,” Kukah stated. “It is important that we respect the identities of people and the nuances of where they come from.”
The Bishop noted that such generalizations often stem from a lack of historical awareness regarding the Middle Belt and the various ethnic nationalities that make up Northern Nigeria. He stressed that acknowledging these differences is crucial for national integration and mutual respect.
”When you call me a Hausa man, you are inadvertently airbrushing my own roots and the history of my people,” he added. “We must move beyond these lazy stereotypes if we truly want to understand the fabric of this nation.”
Kukah, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s National Peace Committee, has long been a critic of systemic marginalization and has advocated for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities across the country.
His remarks have sparked a fresh conversation on social media regarding Nigeria’s complex identity politics, with many commentators praising the cleric for defending the cultural sovereignty of minority groups in the North.
The call for precision in ethnic identification comes at a time of heightened debate over national unity, as the country continues to navigate tensions often fueled by ethno-religious misunderstandings.
