The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III

  • Prosecute killer herdsmen, Sultan tells FG

    Prosecute killer herdsmen, Sultan tells FG

    ….Says, killer herdsmen are criminals

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged the Federal Government to prosecute killers Fulani herdsmen, saying such herdsmen are nothing but criminals and must be treated as such.

    The Sultan, who is also of the Fulani stuck, said Nigerians must stop mistaking the devilish act of the killers’ herdsmen as acting the script of the Fulani community or Muslim community in Nigeria.

    He stated this in Kaduna on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 2-Day Annual Pan-Northern Groups Summit on Security, Socio-economic and political development.

    According to the Sultan, the clashes between farmers and herdsmen are purely economic clashes and not ethno-religious as speculated in some quarters.

    “There are very terrible herdsmen who kill. But they are acting on their own, they are criminals and they must be treated as criminals. Therefore the Federal Government should prosecute them.

    “It is disheartening to hear when people say Fulani herdsmen want to Islamize Nigeria and that is why they are killing. Any Fulani herdsman who kills is not acting the script of Fulani community in Nigeria, neither is he working for the Muslim community,” he said.

    Speaking on the state of Northern Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto said, unity of Northern Nigeria is non-negotiable if the region must develop and have a common front.

    He lamented that, the North of today was not the North that Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello left behind, adding that, there is ethnic awareness among northerners now, than ever before.

    According to him, “There is more ethnic awareness now than ever before. The question is why the sudden consciousness in ethnicity and religion?

    “I will not attempt to provide answer to this question, but, we must therefore strive to re-unite the North, only then, we can have a common front and build a united and cohesive North,” he said.

    On state of infrastructural decay in the north, Sultan charged Northern Governors to pay attention to infrastructure, especially roads.

    He said, Governors should build roads, instead of using N28bn to build airport, adding that, common people will feel their impact more on roads that building airport.

  • No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III have cleared the air over suspicion of a grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State.

    Sultan stated categorically that, it is not possible for a multi religious nation like Nigeria to either be Islamized or Christianised.

    He stated this Friday, at the commissioning of the International Centre for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony’s office in Kaduna.

    According to Sultan, who is also a Co-Chairman of the centre, no country survives religious war; hence, Christians and Muslims in Nigeria must imbibe the culture of peace and peaceful co-existence.

    He however advised that ethnic and religious crisis in the country should become a thing of the past, adding that, “No country survives war or war stimulated by religious intolerance.”

    According to him, the practice of religion should be voluntary and not by force. “We have seen countries where people are killing one another; obviously, there can be no peace in such countries. Killing is not part of the teachings of the holy book.

    He called on Christians and Muslims across the world to desist from making comments that anybody is out to Islamize Nigeria. “Nigeria has a Muslim president and before him was a Christian president. We must see ourselves as one big family, without that, we cannot have peace. It is not possible to Islamize Nigeria, if God had wanted, He would have created all Christians or all Muslims, we are not secular but a multi-religious state because the people are so religious. We must respect one another and understand the tenets of the two religions,” he stressed.

    Similarly, the Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai decried the series of crises that had erupted in the state; lamenting, that the state has been divided along religious line. He mentioned that religion is no longer a matter of life after death but business; adding that those who operate the religious business make money by promoting division. “We must de-emphasise our differences and promote peace,” he stated.

    While he stressed the importance of the Centre situated in Kaduna, he assured of the state government’s commitment towards ensuring that the message of peace and inter-religious harmony is taken to a higher level.

    Earlier in his remark, the General Secretary of The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Reverend Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Wushishi noted that by nature, religion plays a vital role in purposeful leadership, community building, social justice, law and order among others. “Our obligatory responsibility as faith based community in Nigeria is to respect our religious differences. In our diversity as a nation, we are bound to opt for bonds based on our common humanity,” he added.

  • Stop Boko Haram, Sultan urges Jonathan

    Stop Boko Haram, Sultan urges Jonathan

    PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was yesterday in Sokoto where he got a passionate request from the Sultan – stop Boko Haram now.

    Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III was, besides, concerned politicians’ use of religion and ethnicity rather than issues to campaign for votes at next month’s elections.

    “Politicians should not encourage sentiments against patriotism and national unity among Nigerians,” he cautioned.

    Citing the 2011 general elections, the monarch said “We are amazed at what is happening today. Even in 2011, we did not face such challenges.”

    “You must ensure peace and stability and the problem of insurgency must be brought to an end,” Alhaji Abubakar told Dr. Jonathan.

    He spoke of so much rot “in almost all sectors, including education and the trend of insecurity, among others.” So we should address issues that could bring succour to an average Nigerian,” he added.

    Alhaji Abubakar, who wondered why politicking had turned into war, said: “We should know that both parties have significant number of Christians and Muslims as members and God knows why He created us to live together as Nigerians.

    “We should respect our individual religious tenets, otherwise one will be turning against his or her own  religious tenet.”

    The Sultan cited the Paris killings and advised that” Nigeria must not allow foreign happenings to creep into its domain, especially those which do not happen here or concern us while we condemn same to safeguard our territory.

    “Our leaders must continue to dialogue on matters affecting the country by preserving and encouraging the love for one another,” he counselled.

    Delighted by the signing of the anti-violence pact by presidential candidates, Alhaji Abubakar also observed that this was not enough to address the situation, pointing out that other politicians should be cautioned against the use of thugs and weapons before, during and after elections.

    He also warned against any tendency to disenfranchise would-be voters from the general polls, “because millions of Nigerians are likely to be disenfranchised for not obtaining their PVCs”. “I am one of those who up till now have not received the PVC, the Sultan said.

    Earlier, President Jonathan told Sultan Abubakar that the visit was to seek his blessings as a mark of respect for the Sultanate, which he described as key for the peace and stability of the country.

    He said his administration had been keeping faith with commitments to ensure Nigerians are better of in so many areas of human development.

    On the entourage of the president were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and campaign coordinator of the president in Sokoto, PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Abdallah Wali, former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, ministers, Senator Ahmadu Ali, leaders and elders of the party among others.

    Jonathan said: “I am particulalry concerned about the education of the Nigerian child who should access same for a sound foundation for self and nation building.

    “You may recall that I inauigurated the Almajiri integrated model school few years back as foundation that will the child to achieve great stand in education.”

    “We will focus on the Goronyo and Shagari dams in an effort to demonstrate our commitment to boosting agriculture in Sokoto State too.”

    He said the PDP government was committed to improving the lives of Nigerians.

    Mua’zu told the Sultan that the PDP was committed to reversing all trends for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “We are fast at ensuring Nigeria survives and remains amiable to all in terms of development, peace and stability for the unity of its people.”

  • Sultan to politicians: You must work for the people

    Sultan to politicians: You must work for the people

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III wants politicians to de-emphasise self, and rather work for the collective interest of all Nigerians.

    Speaking yesterday in Sokoto at the turbanning of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Matawallen Sokoto, the Sultan also called on the political class to close rank and work for the peace and unity of the country.

    He stressed the need for them to uphold, at all times, the principles of democracy especially those that encourage peaceful and result oriented activities as well as development of the country.

    Politicians, according to him, should abhor and eschew politics of personalities and hatred, especially ahead of next year’s elections.

    He acknowledged government’s effort to rid the country of terrorism but said the task requires the co-operation of every citizen.

    Abubakar said that the honorees  were bestowed with the titles for their honesty, loyalty and dedication to the service of the people of the state and Nigerians.

    The monarch urged them not to relent saying, “to whom much is given, much more is expected.”

    Also turbaned  yesterday were the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Zayanna as Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa (District Head), Alhaji Kabiru Tafida as Sarkin Fadan Sokoto, the Accountant General of the state, Alhaji Aminu Iya as Iyan Sokoto and Alhaji Fodio Kyari as Wamban  Sokoto.

    The ceremony was witnessed by former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ( rtd), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweramadu, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Sokoto State  Governor Aliyu Wamakko, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, serving and former Governors, National Assembly members and traditional rulers from different parts of the country.

    Responding on behalf of the celebrants, Tambuwal commended the Sultan for finding them worthy of the titles.

    He also hailed the Sultan for his relentless efforts towards ensuring peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond.

    “We will continue to emulate our fore-bearers and support the Sultanate Council of Sokoto to ensure the success of its laudable activities,” he said.