Photo: Pioneer Bishop of the new Catholic Diocese of Katsina, Bishop Gerald Musa (4th from left); Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto (5th from left); and other Bishops during the inauguration of the new Bishop in Katsina.
Gov Radda lauds Christian leadership for installing Hausa man Katsina Diocese Bishop
Gov Dikko Radda of Katsina State has hailed the Christian leadership in the country over the installation of a Hausa man, Gerald Mamman Musa, as the pioneer Bishop of the newly created Catholic Diocese of Katsina.
The Governor made this known when he hosted a team of Catholic Bishops led by Bishop Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, who paid him a courtesy call in his office in Katsina.
Radda expressed appreciation for the level of inter-religious relationship and harmony among the followers of the two major religions in the state, Islam and Christianity.
He said the canonical establishment of the Katsina Diocese and the consecration of a new Bishop “proves the high level of religious tolerance between the two religions, expressing hope of its sustenance.”
Earlier, Bishop Kukah explained that the emergence of Bishop Musa as the first Bishop of Katsina Diocese and the first Hausa man to attain the revered position in the Catholic Church, signified a significant step forward for the Catholic Church in Northern Nigeria.
He said that the development had empowered the new Katsina Diocese to operate independently from Sokoto Catholic Diocese.
Bishop Kukah appreciated Gov Radda for his support of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of CAN, Shuaibu Liti, said the creation of Katsina Diocese would further bring about the growth of the church and overall development of the state.
Musa was first ordained as a priest on June 1, 1996 and had served the Catholic Church in various capacities.
Prior to his installation as Bishop of Katsina Diocese, he was the Director of the Centre for Studies on African Culture and Communication (CESACC) at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.(NAN)
