TheCable

Mathew Hassan Kukah, writer, civil activist, national affairs commentator and the Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese in Sokoto, will be in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Tuesday as guest of the book readers’ club of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP).

According to the school, located on Awolowo Road in the capital city, the respected clergy and social commentator will be reading from his book ‘Witness to Justice: An Insider’s Account of Nigeria’s Truth Commission (2011)’ — a critical narrative of the Human Rights Violation Investigations Commission (otherwise known as the Oputa Panel) established by the Obasanjo administration to investigate the causes, nature and extent of human rights violations from 1966 to 1999.

The reading is the school’s second, having earlier hosted Odia Ofeimun, a poet and former Edo state governorship candidate, who read from his book, ‘Taking Nigeria Seriously’.

“He is a fiery and indefatigable patriot whose love for Nigeria is not in doubt. And not surprisingly, he will be reading from his book,” ISGPP said of Hassan-Kukah.

“This is a serious book that brings together, in over 500 pages, history, politics and violence within the framework of Nigeria’s tormented development in a beautiful narrative that is bold and sincere.”

The school said that apart from having Hassan-Kukah speak on cogent issues in the book, it had also invited distinguished personalities and the entire public to the event.

Among those expected at the reading are Femi Osofisan, Bolanle Awe,  Pai Obanya, Akin Mabogunje, Ayo Banjo, Oladipo Akinkugbe, all professors, as well as Bankole Olayebi, Lekan Sote,  Sepehen Lawani and Edmund Obilo.

“The essence of the gathering around Fr. Kukah’s book is not only to tease out the arguments of the book, but to also see its significance within the larger problem of Nigeria’s national development,” ISGPP added.