By Dansu Peter In a surprising political move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed one of his most vocal critics, Bishop Matthew Hass...
By Dansu Peter
Bishop Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has long been known for his sharp criticisms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu’s administration, often challenging the government on issues of governance, security, and national unity. His appointment to a key federal institution is seen as a significant overture by the President, signaling an attempt to build bridges with dissenting voices.
Alongside Kukah, the President also named other principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as Bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as University Librarian. Members of the Governing Council include Mr. Thomas Etuh (North Central), Chief Fabian Nwaora (South East), Prof. Femi Taiwo (South West), and Zarah Bukar (North East).
The appointment comes at a time when the Tinubu administration is striving to project inclusivity and strengthen the nation’s education sector under its Renewed Hope Agenda. The President has urged Kukah and his fellow appointees to provide visionary leadership as the university prepares to admit its first set of students in September 2025.
The Federal University of Applied Sciences, formerly known as Nok University, was recently taken over by the federal government. Kukah’s leadership of the university’s governing body will be closely watched, given his history of holding those in power to account.
While some see the move as an olive branch, others question whether it is a strategic effort to neutralize one of the government’s fiercest critics. Bishop Kukah is yet to publicly react to the appointment.
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