Fiery Catholic Bishop Matthew Kukah says President Muhammadu Buhari has ruined the nation’s unity, causing ethnic groups to clash over differences that could have been otherwise resolved.

Conveying his Easter message to Christian faithful on Sunday, Mr Kukah reeled out the scorecard of Mr Buhari saying the president’s nepotism to favour his cronies and tribesmen, has resorted in full blown ethnic and religious crisis.

“The Buhari administration sadly has divided our people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and region, in a way that we have never witnessed in our history,” the cleric said, adding that “This carefully choreographed agenda has made Nigerians vulnerable and ignited the most divisive form of identity consciousness among our people.”

Mr Kukah noted with dismay that “years of friendships, cultural exchange, and collaboration built over time have now come under serious pressure from stereotyping.”

Agitations for secession has heightened mainly in Nigeria’s South since Mr Buhari assumed power in 2015. The Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been leading separatist agitations in the southeastern part of the country. The Igbos, who have seen their prominent positions in previous governments cut out during Buhari regime, have accused Mr Buhari of marginalisation.

Similarly, Sunday Igboho, leading Yoruba secession agitations in the South-West, made the similar accusation, noting that all critical federal agencies, especially the Tin Can Ports in Apapa and other maritime infrastructure, are controlled by elements from Mr Buhari’s northern region.

Despite widespread criticisms and opposition from other ethnic groups, the Buhari regime has continued to push for the establishment of Ruga, a pastoralist settlement said to chiefly favour his ethnic Fulani herdsmen.

Opposers have continued to argue that the Ruga policy is a ploy to hand over ancestral lands of other ethnic groups to killer herdsmen.

The administration’s disregard for ethnic and religious balance in federal appointments has left several separatist groups rising up across the country.

Also, Mr Buhari’s lack-lustre attitude in tackling insecurity has emboldened northern bandits to launch vicious attacks on innocent citizens, without fear of arrest or prosecution.

“Ignorance and miseducation have combined with prejudice to create the falsehood that somehow, one religion is superior to the others,” stressed Mr Kukah in his Easter message.