Tag: Sa’ad Abubakar

Insecurity: Sultan Of Sokoto Visits Zulum, Laments Killings Have Taken New Dimension

 

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar has lamented the spate of killings arising from the security challenges in the country.

The Sultan who is also Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers said the killings have taken a new dimension.

“The killings have taken new dimensions and we really don’t know what are the causes of these mass killings of innocent people,” he said on Monday while leading his colleagues from the south and northern part of the country to meet Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

“We had various fora with our political leaders, mentioned these things out, how to take care of our securities in various communities. We have written papers, sent our Governors, we have discussed with all our leaders, all the way forward.

 

 

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“But we see things getting worst and worst. It used to be Boko Haram alone in Borno and Yobe, now in all over the north in particular and generally all over the country. You have bandits and terrorists all over the north, you can’t even move freely, in the south it’s the same thing.”

On their mission to Maiduguri, Sultan Abubakar said they did not only come to commiserate with the governor on the rent killing of farmers in the state but to make a strong statement with regards to the insecurity affecting the entire nation.

The revered monarch asked the military to occupy Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region housing Boko Haram insurgents.

On his part, Governor Zulum thanked the royal fathers for the special visit.

He however decried the continuous dependence on donations to feed the internally displaced persons as the main source of livelihood.

Sultan Of Sokoto Visits El-Rufai Over Southern Kaduna Security Challenges

Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II                   Governor Nasir El-Rufai

 

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II on Monday paid a private visit to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

The Sultan’s visit comes barely 24 hours after the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi visited El-Rufai to discuss issues bothering on security and economy of the state.

Upon his arrival at the Government House in Kaduna, the Sultan went straight to the governor’s office where he held a closed-door meeting with El-Rufai and some government officials including the Senator representing Kaduna North in the National Assembly, Suleiman Abdu-Kwari.

Although the Sultan declined to speak to reporters after the meeting, Governor Nasir El-Rufai said the meeting discussed the security challenges in southern Kaduna and other parts of the state.

The governor disclosed that he received advice and encouragement from the royal father towards finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the state.

He appreciated the Sultan for his fatherly visit and support in ensuring that peace returns to the state.

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Kaduna has been experiencing a series of attacks with a recent one carried out six weeks ago.

On July 19, 21 people were killed while 28 others sustained various degrees of injuries when gunmen attacked Kukum Daji Village of Kaura Local Government Area of the state.

According to the President of the Community, Mr. Yashen Titus, the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, invaded the venue of a wedding party in the community at about 10 pm.

Similarly, on July 7, no fewer than 38 persons lost their lives in separate attacks on two villages in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna state on July 7.

The Council Chairman, Emmanuel Adamu, who confirmed the attack, said the gunmen unleashed mayhem on Ankpon Village in Nandu and Kabamu Village in Fadan Karshi, all of Numana district.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, he said the gunmen killed 38 persons including women and children.

Following the continued attacks in the state, the Defence Headquarters deployed Special Forces to halt the senseless killings and restore peace in Southern Kaduna.

Receiving the troops at Sector 7, the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven on August 14, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan charged them to take the battle to the bandits and ensure that peace and security are restored to southern Kaduna.

COVID-19: Sultan Orders Suspension Of Eid-El-Fitr Prayers

A file phot of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III.

 

 

The Sultan of Sokoto and Head of Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Sa’ad Abubakar III, has directed the suspension of Eid-el-Fitr congregational prayers in the outskirts of towns and cities across the country.

He gave the directive in a statement on Thursday by the JNI Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Aliyu.

The Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), urged Muslims to observe the Eid-el-Fitr prayer at home with family members, or alone in the case of an individual living alone.

He also counselled the state governments that have reached concrete decisions to observe the Eid-el-Fitr prayer, based on their medical experts’ advice.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Records Eight More COVID-19 Deaths, Total Now 200

The traditional ruler urged them to ensure that the worshippers observe the strictest measures of distancing, face masks, and the use of hand sanitisers at the praying ground.

According to him, the authorities should consider using neighbourhood mosques if it becomes necessary to observe the prayer in an open space.

The Sultan also urged Ulamas to fear Allah and be mature enough in guarding their utterances and actions for the overall interest of the Deen and the Ummah.

The statement said, “Nigerian Muslims are, therefore, called upon to reflect their minds to the good virtues of the month of Ramadan and keep to its teachings all through their respective lives, as the Lord of Ramadan, is still and shall remain The Lord of other months, and above all keeps the records of our actions and inactions.

“More so, Muslims are reminded to keep to the ordinances of the Glorious Qur’an, for the prestige of the Muslim Ummah.”

Governor Bello Describes Sultan’s Reign As Monumental Success

Governor bello, SultanNiger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has applauded the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, for his significant contributions to the unity, peace, progress and development of the Nigeria, in his first decade on the throne.

In a congratulatory message to Northern Nigeria’s most eminent monarch and spiritual leader of the Muslims, Governor Sani Bello described the sultan’s ten-year reign as one filled with immeasurable activities, challenges and ultimately, overwhelming success.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Ndace, the Governor said the Sultan has been able to bring hope and understanding where despair, desperation and uncertainty had taken hold.

He cited instances of the various initiatives and efforts made by the monarch to counter negative perception and reduce influence of ethnic-religious extremists in Nigeria via various fora, which included inviting international Joint Muslim-Christian Delegations to Nigeria.

Governor Bello also noted that, as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, and the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar’s reign was instrumental to the establishment of Nigeria’s Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which is championing the course for sustainable peace, security, ethnic-religious harmony among people of various faiths.

“The Sultan’s reign has brought unity and peaceful co-existence and greatly reduced mutual suspicion and tension among people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“He has been able to sustain and enhance the status of the throne and wield influence that transcends the country’s borders.

Governor bello, Sultan
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III

“These efforts have earned the Sultan national and international recognition including joint nomination with Cardinal John Onayekan, for Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of their peace-building roles,” the Governor stated.

“We are proud to celebrate a strategic leader and statesman, whose positive attitude, strong will, discipline, self-confidence and ability to manage people have been significant factors towards the progress and development of the Sultanate in particular and the country in general.

“He has clearly combined his military experience with the Sultanate leadership values in the discharge of his responsibilities,” he added.

While acknowledging the roles of traditional rulers and religious leaders in nation-building, Bello stressed the need for the government to support them by creating the right platform for them to function effectively.

The Governor prayed that the spiritual leader witnesses many more decades ahead, in good health and wisdom to continue with his “remarkable service to humanity,” by promoting mutual respect and condemning bigotry wherever it rears its head.

Sa’ad Abubakar who was a one time serving  Brigadier  General of  the Armoured  Corps, Nigerian Army, was recalled to take office as  the 20th Sultan on November 2, 2006 following the demise of his brother, Muhammadu Maccido, who died in the ill-fated ADC Airline crash in Abuja.

Osinbajo Links Terrorism To Bad Religious Doctrines

religious-leaders-and-vice-president-yemi-osinbajo
Religious leaders and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has blamed bad religious doctrines for increased terrorism, violence and armed conflicts around the world.

The Vice President made the observation at a meeting on Wednesday with 200 world religious leaders in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Apostles Of Hatred

He advised the clerics to do all within their power to disqualify all apostles of hatred and bad doctrines across the world.

Professor Osinbajo says the government is determined to protect the sanctity of every human and their right to belong to any religion.

World leaders have moved away from talk to downright action over the last decade to confront the issue of religious extremism.

Various forms of violence have risen owing to bad doctrines, a development that prompted the meeting of world religious leaders, with participants seeking ways that religions could work for global peace.

Niger Republic, Boko Haram
Boko Haram terrorist group has pushed for an Islamic State in northeast Nigeria for over six years

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, agreed that the central concern for Nigeria is to uphold her unity and peace through religion.

The high-level international inter-religious gathering will also consider how religions could positively affect and encourage efforts to foster social harmony and economic progress.

Heat Of Insurgency

Nigeria has in the last six years continued to tackle insurgency by Boko Haram terrorist group which has attacked communities in the northeast.

The Islamic group said it wanted to establish an Islamic State and bring an end to Western education in the region.

In the heat of the insurgency, nearly 300 girls were taken from their school’s dormitory in Government Girls Secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, a stronghold of the group.

muhammadu-buhari-and-chibok-girls
President Muhammadu Buhari met with 21 Chibok girls released by Boko Haram on Wednesday

The girls were taken on April 14, 2014.

Over 50 girls escaped on the same day from the group, leaving over 200 others in their captivity.

For two years, Nigerian armed forces have made several attempts to rescue them with support from international community, but did not make any major breakthrough until October 13, when 21 girls were released.

Their release came after one of the girls was rescued in May, with one of the terrorists she was married to saying they had decided to come out of their haven due to lack of food and other things.

The Nigerian government said the girls were released based on trust and negotiation aided by some friends of the oil-rich nation.

On Wednesday, the 21 released girls met with President Muhammadu Buhari, with the President assuring them that the government would rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to the Society is done as quickly as possible.

 

Northern Leaders Lament Poor State Of Region

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar, Shettima, Borno, Northern Leaders, Northern NigeriaPolitical and traditional leaders from the northern part of the Nigeria are lamenting the deplorable state of the region, arising from insecurity, poverty and a downward plunge from its respected position of influence in the country.

The leaders made their position known on Monday in Kaduna state at the annual Pan Northern Summit of Leaders and Elders of the region organised by the Northern Elders Forum.

Speakers at the conference including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, relived the unity and oneness of the people of the North in the past, saying that the fragmentation that currently exists among the people is responsible for insecurity and backwardness of the region.

Organisers of the summit believe it is time for leaders of the region to come together and address these challenges that have put them behind other regions.

Shettima, Borno, Northern Leaders, Northern NigeriaIn an emotion-laden speech, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state said that the current security challenges in the Northeast and particularly Borno State, where over 50,000 women have been turned to widows by insurgents, calls for serious concern not just from the citizens of the affected states but from Nigerians in general.

The Governor announced that Boko Haram has been largely contained that they no longer pose any security threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

He identified key areas which the northern leaders must address to overcome these challenges. They include poverty reduction through agriculture, job creation, reviving the education sector and gender equality.

Blessed with large land mass and population size, as well as abundant mineral deposits, participants at the summit agreed that northern Nigeria has no reason to be poor.

According to them, the way forward is for the people and the leaders to go back to the visions and dreams of the founding fathers whose tenure brought about unity and development of the region in the past.

Lawmakers Ask Executive To Address Alarming Maternal Mortality Rate

House of Representatives in Nigeria kick against removal of JegaThe House of Representatives says there is an urgent need to address the alarming rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

This position followed a debate on a motion raised by Representative Aishatu Dukku, which noted that Nigeria had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

The motion was largely supported by members of the house, with a call on the executive to take necessary steps to improve maternal and child health in Nigeria.

Governments at all levels were also encouraged to make qualitative antenatal care free and accessible at primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities.

The lawmakers’ concern for the nation’s maternal mortality rate came months after the National Centre for Women Development commissioned a research into maternal health indicators in Nigeria.

It was a strategy to reduce the rate of maternal deaths.

The Director General of the Centre, Ms Onyeka Onwenu, expressed optimism that the initiative would tackle the reproductive rights challenges of women and girls.

Ms Onwenu said the study was also critical to the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period requires adequate attention, but Nigeria has continued to record cases of maternal deaths during childbirth.

Advocacy For Proper Antenatal Care

This rising rate made traditional rulers from northern Nigeria in August resolve to lead the campaign against maternal and child mortality in the Region.

The region’s performance has been rated poorly in its performance in the area of maternal and child health.

Indicators showed that the region had the highest rate of maternal, infant mortality among other regions in Nigeria.

At a one-day dialogue and sensitisation meeting with Northern Traditional Rulers Committee on Primary Health Care held in Kaduna State on August 30, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, who chaired the meeting, decried the high rate of maternal mortality in the north.

He stressed the need for collective effort to address the ugly trend.

The Sultan further urged traditional rulers to sensitise their subjects on the importance of providing proper antenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women and nursing mothers especially at rural communities.

According to statistics released by the United Nations Population Fund,  no fewer than 100 women die daily across Northern Nigeria during childbirth.

 

Sultan Says Armed Herdsmen Are Foreign Terrorists

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad AbubakarThe Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, says the so-called Fulani herdsmen moving with guns, causing violence, fighting with farmers are not Nigerians, but foreign terrorists.

The Sultan, in his Eid el-Kabir message to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria said that these are foreigners coming into Nigeria to cause a breach of the peace.

According to him, “the so-called Fulani herdsmen moving with guns, causing violence, fighting with farmers are not Nigerians.

“Foreigners are the ones coming into Nigeria to cause a breach of the peace. They are therefore terrorists and should be treated as such by the Nigerian security agencies.”

The Sultan, while noting that Nigerian herdsmen were peace-loving, however, acknowledged that there are problems between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, which should only be resolved through dialogue.

He warned that “Nigeria would continue to lag behind if there is no peace and unity”.

“Our diversity should be our strength and God has not made a mistake by creating us with diverse differences.”

Northern Traditional Rulers Join Campaign To Halt Maternal Mortality

maternal mortality and child care in Nigeria health care industry Traditional rulers from northern Nigeria have resolved to lead the campaign against maternal and child mortality in the Region.

The move came on the heels of the region’s poor performance in the area of maternal and child health.

Indicators showed that the region has the highest rate of maternal, infant mortality among other regions in Nigeria.

At a one-day dialogue and sensitisation meeting with Northern Traditional Rulers Committee on Primary Health Care held in Kaduna State on Tuesday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, who chaired the meeting, decried the high rate of maternal mortality in the north.

He stressed the need for collective effort to address the ugly trend.

The Sultan further urged traditional rulers to sensitise their subjects on the importance of providing proper antenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women and nursing mothers especially at rural communities.

According to statistics released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF),  no fewer than 100 women die daily across Northern Nigeria during childbirth.

Massive Sensitisation

This is due to a lot of factors which include medical complications – bleeding and infection,  social factors – poverty, lack of education, lack of adequate medical facilities and personnel among others.

Worried by this negative development, the traditional rulers gathered to brainstorm and come up with ways of addressing this major health challenge.

The meeting was conveyed by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development in collaboration with UNPF.

The Dean of Faculty of Medicine Kaduna State University, Dr Joel Adeze, told the gathering that lack of education and some cultural practices against women were major causes of maternal deaths.

He, however, emphasises the role of traditional rulers in sensitising their subjects about providing qualitative health care for pregnant women.

Other participants at the meeting agreed to take the message back home and ensure all necessary steps were taken to reverse the menace.

With massive sensitisation and political will from the government, participants believe these factors would help in encouraging all stakeholders to step up measures to reduce the menace of maternal mortality and save more pregnant mothers and their children from dying during childbirth.

Sultan Urges Nigerian Leaders To Uphold Justice

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar on JusticeThe Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has challenged Nigerian leaders to always uphold justice.

He asked them not be bias in favour or against anyone, saying injustice has no place in any society.

The Sultan made the call while delivering a goodwill message at an Islamic gathering in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital in southwest Nigeria.

He called on Muslims to shun violence but always be prayerful and not take law into their hands whenever they are being denied their constitutional rights.

Alhaji Abubakar noted that constant praying for the nation’s leaders for God’s guidance is mandatory for Muslims in order for them to be successful in directing the country.

Sultan, UNICEF Urge Northern Governors To Promote Girl-child Education

International Day of the Girl Child.The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar and the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) have urged Governors of the 19 northern Nigerian states and parents to encourage girl-child education and eradicate the Almajiri syndrome.

They are of the opinion that the move will eradicate illiteracy and poverty in the region.

The Sultan and UNICEF Country Representatives made the call on Sunday in Kaduna at a one-day advocacy meeting with the Commissioners of Education and traditional rulers from the 19 northern states.

The meeting was organised by the Sultan Foundation For Peace and Development to mobilise advocacy and support for the programme.

In his speech, Mr Abubakar while urging the Governors of the northern states to work out a deliberate plan to promote girl-child education in the region, also explained that Almajiri and all forms of begging in the region were against the teachings of Islam.

He expressed worry that the alarming rate of young girls dropping out of school, if not addressed as soon as possible, would continue to militate against the socio-economic development of the region in particular and the country in general.

In her remarks, the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, noted that education remained the cornerstone of any development, which without it, no nation could achieve any meaningful development.

While she called on leaders of northern Nigeria to commit and take action to reduce the gap in girls’ enrollment and completion of basic education, she was optimistic that the meeting would also help to find solutions to challenges militating against equal access to education by the girl-child especially in the northeast where many children are out of school due to Boko Haram attacks.

The 2013 DHS education survey revealed that educational marginalisation in northern Nigeria is particularly pronounced among women.

According to the survey, about 69. 4 per cent of women in the north have no access to education at all when compared with the 5.5 per cent in the southern region.

Participants at the meeting believed that what was needed now was for the various State Governments in the region to develop a strategy of prioritising education, as an important way to tackle education deprivation for the girls.

Pro-Biafra Protest: Northern And Eastern Traditional Rulers Meet In Owerri

biafraRepresentatives of the Northern Council of Traditional Rulers and their south-east counterparts have met in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, to discuss the prolonged protests and agitations for the state of Biafra, among other issues confronting the nation.

While receiving the delegation at the Government House in Owerri, Governor Rochas Okorocha reiterated that Nigeria would remain united, no matter the challenges being faced at the moment.

He assured Nigerians that in no distant time, the agitation for the State of Biafra will be addressed accordingly.

The delegation was led by Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, who is the Chairman of the coordinating committee, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, and the Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Aliyu Gumi, who is the co-coordinating committee Chairman of Northern States Council of Traditional Rulers.

The Emir of Lafia, Mustapha Agwai, Emir of Fika, Abali Mohammadu and Gwom Gwom Jos, Buba Gyang were also part of the team.

Mr Abubakar noted that the visit was at the instance of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the Chairman of the Northern Council of Traditional Rulers, to discuss the agitation by pro-Biafra groups and also find out the truth about the rumour that there was crisis in the leadership of the South-east Council of Traditional Rulers.

He maintained that the protection of the nation’s unity should remain paramount in the minds of all Nigerians, irrespective of their differences.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the South-East council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Ebere Dick, who led other south east traditional rulers, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Eze Agom Eze, Chairman, Ebonyi State Council of Traditional Rulers, said the meeting was a step towards the right direction, as it would help unite traditional institutions in Nigeria and beyond.