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Insecurity: We Are Worried, Things Are Not Getting Better – Sultan Of Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has again expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the country, adding that it has worsened.

Speaking at the 3rd Quarter 2021 Meeting of the Intra-Religious Council in Abuja on Thursday, the Sultan said he won’t hesitate in spilling the truth about the state of the nation.

“Things are not getting better. I have said it and will say it again and again until we see that yes; things are getting better,” Sa’ad Abubakar stated.

The Sultan said it is appalling that these days the “unknown gunmen” raid people’s houses and kill mercilessly.

‘Proactive Intelligence’

The monarch wondered how the marauders could remain unknown when the nation has various intelligence agencies.

Although he commended security operatives for their efforts so far, Sa’ad Abubakar said the nation needs “proactive intelligence agencies that will think ahead of anybody, any criminal trying to do something” cynical and disrupt the peace.

The Sultan, who was a military man, explained that proper intelligence gathering will put security operatives a step ahead of the miscreants troubling the nation.

According to him, Nigerians can’t fold their hands while unknown gunmen threaten the nation.

No Sparing

The Sokoto ruler urged the military and the police not to spare any religious leader that comes out to the “public domain to say so many nasty and bad things that would raise tensions higher”.

While admonishing fellow monarchs and religious leaders, the Sultan said “we must always tell the truth even if it is against us or our families.

“We shouldn’t be scared of telling the truth to authorities and that is what we must continue to do”.

He argued that when religious leaders tell the truth, then they can sit at home in peace even as he challenged security agencies to “invite religious leaders who incite violence and interrogate them appropriately.

“All these people calling for such activities must be identified and our security agencies must up their game and take action against them.

“Whether it is a religious leader, ethnic leader or traditional leader, he must be made to face the law, because there is nobody who is above the law,” Sa’ad Abubakar added.

According to him, this step will help in ending the security challenges facing Nigeria.

Afraid of Dialogue?

Speaking on the theme of the meeting, “Making Nigerians Healthy To Achieve Peaceful Society,” the Sultan believes that attaining peace requires honest dialogue.

“We must be honest with ourselves, we cannot come to the council and agree then go back to our various comfort zones and start preaching hatred, and that’s what is happening every day.

“A lot of hate speeches by religious leaders… we are supposed to be very diplomatic.

“I cannot imagine using religion to shed people’s blood,” the monarch said.

He wondered why it is so difficult for the presidency to lead a dialogue involving all leaders, elders and people who can influence the citizens.

“Why are we afraid of talking to one another? What dialogue cannot solve, violence will never solve.”

“There must be a time to rise up and go beyond ethnic and religious sentiments and sit down and talk to one another in the most honest way and tell ourselves the truth.

“What’s really happening in this country is not right and this is how we should go if we really want to have a country.

“The presidency must lead the way, reach out to people, sit down and talk to one another because I have seen the goodwill of the people of this country towards one another.”

Some of the attendees at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Olasupo Ayokunle.

NSCIA Will Not Force Anyone To Take AstraZeneca Vaccine, Says Sultan

The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) says it will not force anyone in the country to take the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Council, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, stated this at a meeting on Friday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He spoke at a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib.

According to the Sultan, the NSCIA has endorsed the vaccine but it will not decide for anyone whether or not to take the jab.

As controversies over the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines continue, the Nigerian authorities decided to meet with Muslim scholars and imams led by the Sultan to seek their support.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, having a chat with the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, at a meeting in Abuja on March 19, 2021.

In his remarks, Mustapha who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, announced that the task force was working to begin vaccination of religious and traditional leaders.

He explained that this was aimed at boosting the confidence of the public and commended the Muslim scholars and imams for their support to the government in the management of the virus.

Ehanire, on his part, reiterated that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and those who have already been vaccinated, including himself, have yet to report any side effects.

According to him, the involvement of religious leaders is to speed up the administration of the vaccines, considering the impact of the disease on the Nigerian population.

For the NPHCDA chief, the government decided to convene the meeting in order to clear the air on the lingering controversy and commence mass vaccination.

He noted that the European Union Medicines Council had also reversed its initial decision to stop the use of the vaccine and said that it was safe for use.

Borno Killing One Of The Most Gruesome Murders By Boko Haram – Sultan

File photo of the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has described the Borno killing as the most gruesome murder carried out by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

Boko Haram terrorists had on Saturday stormed Koshebe community killing at least 43 people.

But speaking on Wednesday during an event in Sokoto, the Sultan asked Nigerian leaders to rise up to the challenge of insecurity facing the country.

He also called on the Muslim faithful not to forget to pray for god’s intervention to end the security crisis.

“We are most devastated with what happened in Borno some few days back. It is one of the most gruesome murders carried out in this country for such a large number of people,” he said.

“We want to go back to the almighty Allah always; there we have peace of mind because he does what he wants to do at the time he wants to.

“We are not challenging almighty Allah. Rather we are thanking him for opening our eyes the more for us as leaders to wake up to our responsibilities.”

Following the deadly attack, there has been conflicting figures on the number of casualties in the troubled northeast.

While the United Nations put the number of dead victims at 110, the military authorities insist that only 43 were killed.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Mr. Edward Kallon had in a statement on Sunday, condemned the assault, calling for the immediate release of several persons who were kidnapped.

Kallon further stated that such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing which the UN is striving to alleviate.

According to him, such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing which the UN is striving to alleviate.

“I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity,” Kallon said.

“The entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State is outraged by the incident.

CAN Felicitates With Muslims At Sallah

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says it is rejoicing with, and congratulating the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, Head of Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) and President-General, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and all Nigerian Muslim Faithful on their successful completion of this year’s Ramadan.

In a letter addressed to the Sultan, CAN said it believes that the great yearly spiritual exercise is in obedience to the Holy Quran that says, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” — Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183.

While the Christian body said it appreciates the coming to an end of this year’s Ramadan prayers, it however, implored all Muslims not to cease from continuously praying for the peace, unity and stability of the country.

“We wish to encourage Muslims in Nigeria and all over the world to continue to pray for a speedy end of COVID-19 in our country, continent and the entire world, to which the Christian Association of Nigeria is also fully committed.

“We commend Nigerians for their cooperation with the government so far in their attempts being made to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, despite all the inconveniences and hardships. It is our prayer that all those who are sick of the pandemic will recover very soon and that those who have lost their loved ones to the cold hands of death will be comforted by the Almighty God.

“May God help us all to continue to keep to the rules and regulations which the government has put in place to stop the spread of the pandemic! We also pray that all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliations and ethnic identities, will continue to live righteously and harmoniously even after this annual spiritual exercise.

“Finally, we wish Your Eminence, the Muslim faithful and indeed the Federal Republic Nigeria, Happy Id el Fitri. God bless you!,” the letter signed by Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, CAN’s General Secretary, partially read.

Sultan, Obi Of Onitsha, Tinubu, Others Bag Honourary Degrees In ABUAD

Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) on Monday conferred honourary degrees on top individuals including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; the Obi of Onitsha Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

The dignitaries were honoured during the seventh convocation ceremony of the institution in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

Sultan of Sokoto and Obi of Onitsha were decorated as Doctor of Letters while Tinubu was decorated as Doctor of Public Administration.

During the reading of his citation, the Sultan of Sokoto is described as a serial honourary awardee who has received honourary degrees in over 10 universities. He is also the current chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

Tinubu was honoured by the institution for his political acumen and for being a true believer in federalism.

The honourary awardees were subsequently inducted into the alumni association of ABUAD.

Atiku, Secondus Visit Sultan Of Sokoto

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and other leaders of the party, visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar on Monday, February, 4.

Atiku and the PDP chieftains visited the Sultan after a presidential rally in Gusau, Zamfara state.

In his remarks, Sultan Abubakar charged politicians to confront and address issues of insecurity, poverty and unemployment troubling the country.

The Sultan urged politicians to commit themselves to a peaceful election and also keep to their campaign promises when they get elected into their respective offices.

He also encouraged security agencies to ensure they play a non-partisan role in the coming elections.

Below are some more photos from the courtesy visit.

Sultan of Sokoto Calls On Politicians To Address Insecurity, Poverty

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar has charged politicians to confront and address issues of insecurity, poverty and unemployment troubling the country.

Sultan Abubakar made the call on Monday when he received in audience the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and leaders of the party who were at his palace for a courtesy visit.

In his remarks, the Sultan urged politicians to commit themselves to a peaceful election and also keep to their campaign promises when they get elected into their respective offices.

He also encouraged security agencies to ensure they play a non-partisan role in the coming elections.

Buhari Meets With Traditional Rulers In Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other traditional rulers.

The President received the monarchs alongside other members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also at the meeting.

See photos of the meeting below:

Polio Eradication: Sultan Pledges Support For Health Agencies

Governor bello, Sultan — Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, says he is committed to working with health agencies across the country to eradicate polio and other childhood killer diseases in Nigeria.

He was speaking during the flag off of the sub-national immunisation plus days organised by the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency in Sokoto.

The Sultan appealed to the people to accept the vaccines, and the routine immunisation programme so that they can effectively fight polio and other child-killer diseases like measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, among others.

Sultan, Ooni Call For Promotion Of National Unity

No country can survive two civil wars, which makes the call for national unity at this time very paramount.

These were the words of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III during the Traditional Rulers’ Day, as part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of Rivers State.

The event brought together royal fathers from within the state and across the country, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The traditional rulers called for concerted efforts by all to ensure that there is peace and unity in the country.

Sultan Of Sokoto Says Nobody Can Islamise Nigeria

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that nobody can islamise Nigeria.

The monarch allayed fears in some quarters that there was a grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State.

He argued that no country survives a religious war and as such, Christians and Muslims in Nigeria must imbibe the culture of peace and peaceful co-existence.

The Sultan also appealed to Christians and Muslims across the world to desist from making comments insinuating that anyone was out to Islamise Nigeria.

He also stressed the need for Nigerians to set aside ethno-religious differences and be committed towards peace and development of the nation.

While noting that both Christians and Muslims have always lived together since Nigeria’s amalgamation, Alhaji Abubakar recommended dialogue as the best option to address some of the socio-political challenges in the country.

On his part, Governor Nasir El-Rufai decried the series of crises that have erupted in Kaduna State over the years, which he said have divided the state along religious lines.

He noted that religion that was supposed to be used for spiritual upliftment, has been turned into a tool for division in the hands of religious leaders.

Sultan Urges Nigerian Leaders To Uphold Justice

The 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.

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