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Tag: Sultan Abubakar

  • Sultan to clergy: Preach with fear of God

    Sultan to clergy: Preach with fear of God

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Islamic and Christian clergy to preach with the absolute fear of God in the country.

    The Sultan said this in his Sallah message to the Muslim faithful in Nigeria to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

    Abubakar said the clergy they should fear Allah and live above their own selfish interests while preaching to their followers.

    “They should avoid provocative statements that could lead to the breach of peace and lead to violence in the country.

    “They should also know that staying attuned to the religious teachings is the only way that bring mutual respect and love which eventually lead to the desired peace in the nation,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying in the message.

    The monarch also said that it was not right for a non-Muslim to interfere in the affairs of the Muslims and Islam or to impose his views on the religion he did not profess.

    Abubakar also commended the Federal Government for constituting the committee on the security challenges in the north.

    He said that those calling for the scrapping of the committee were enemies of peace and were “unpatriotic,’’ and charged Nigerians to give the committee the necessary support to accomplish its job.

    “It is a known fact that no peace could be achieved except through constructive dialogue.

    “On our part, we are satisfied with the work of this committee and we are ready to give it all necessary support to succeed,’’ he promised.

    The Sultan also called on leaders at all levels to fear Allah by accomplishing the trust placed on them in leading their subjects.

     

  • Sultan cautions on insecurity, violence

    Sultan cautions on insecurity, violence

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday in Sokoto warned Nigerians against fanning the embers of insecurity and violence in the country.

    The Sultan gave the warning when he hosted a 20-man delegation of the Kaduna-based Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria at a fast-breaking dinner.

    Abubakar noted that in time of crisis, the sons and daughters of the down-trodden Nigerians were always the victims of violence and mayhem.

    “These poor and vulnerable youths get killed or maimed while their colleagues in the wealthy and elitist families are often sent abroad for studies.

    “This is another form of injustice against the weak, indigent youths and it must be urgently stopped,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the forum.

    Speaking on 2015, the Sultan stressed the need to pray the country’s leaders “who will take us out of our present predicaments as a nation.”

    He said traditional rulers are not politicians but,” fathers and leaders in the political field…who would continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders to lead the nation to the promise land.”

    Abubakar commended members of the foundation, dedicated to peace building in the north and Nigeria generally, for doing a very patriotic job.

     

     

  • Sultan blames parents, leaders over youths’ immorality

    Sultan blames parents, leaders over youths’ immorality

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar on Saturday blamed the failure of leadership for the increasing moral decadence among youths in the country.

    Abubakar said this in Kaduna in a message to the opening of the 8th Ramadan Lecture, organised by the NTA, FRCN and VON, with the theme “Moral Upbringing in Islam.”

     

    He noted that the complete breakdown of family and leadership values had left the youths with no role models to emulate, either at home or at the national level.

    Represented by the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril, the Sultan also noted that the marriage institution had completely collapsed as parents continue to produce children they could not fend for or even give advice.

    “Things are extremely bad and in shambles, parents have failed, the leaders whether political, religious or in the academics are not showing good examples,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying during the lecture.

    The situation, according to him, has led to the evolution of youths who are showing greater disrespect for their parents, political and religious leaders as well as the society at large.

    Abubakar recalled the mayhem unleashed by such youths after the 2011 general elections, saying that most of those who participated in the violence were drug addicts.

     

  • Good leadership sustains democracy – Sultan

    Good leadership sustains democracy – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III on Tuesday identified good leadership as key to wooing the confidence of the governed for the sustenance of democracy.

    He described Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State as a tested figure who has demonstrated the foresight of a good leader to the people of the state.

    “You are doing tremendously well and keep it up”, Abubakar told Wamakko.

    Sultan Abubakar spoke in Kalambaina town, Wamakko local government area while laying the foundation stone for the construction of 500 housing units by the state government.

    The foundation laying event for the housing units comprising market, mosque and school among other facilities at the cost of N3.7 billion was part of activities marking democracy day in the state.

    Already, Wamakko’s administration has constructed not less than 4,000 housing units across the state.

    He told the governor to keep consolidating his strides, urging people of the state to extend their cooperation and support to the governor for the sustenance of his policies and programmes in the interest of all.

     

     

  • Boko Haram: FG can still go ahead with amnesty – Sultan

    Boko Haram: FG can still go ahead with amnesty – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday said Federal Government can still forge ahead with amnesty for the Boko Haram sect despite the group’s rejection of the proposal.

    The Sultan stated this while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after leading other members of the 2012 Federal Government Hajj delegation to present their report to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    When pressed by journalists to comment on the sect rejection of the amnesty proposal which he put forward, Abubakar simply said “there is nothing impossible in this world.”

    He was later whisked away by his aides in waiting vehicles.

     

  • Kano blast aimed at causing chaos – JNI

    Kano blast aimed at causing chaos – JNI

    The Muslim umbrella body in the north, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) said on Wednesday that Monday’s suicide bombing of the New Road Motor Park in Kano may be a ploy to plunge the north and by extension, the entire country into crisis beginning with Kano.

    Reacting to the incident which claimed several lives, the Secretary General of the JNI, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the attack on the motor park is worrisome and asked government at all levels to do everything possible to nip such incidences in the bud and bring the masterminds to justice.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, the JNI also condemned the killing of a female Divisional Police Officer in Kaduna while calling for calm and restraint over the unfortunate incidence.

    The statement reads: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, once again condemned in the strongest terms the bomb blast that occurred in Kano.

    “This new trend of bombing at a Motor Park, and the killing of innocent people that gather to travel to various destinations, at New Road Motor Park, Sabon-Gari, Kano, Kano State on Monday, March 18, 2013 is disturbing and alarming.

    “Similarly, the gun shot at a female Police Officer, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 19, 2013,is also condemned. We therefore, call for calm and restraint. The situation is very worrisome, and calls for more concerted efforts and strategies of averting such ugly situations.

    “Therefore, the JNI once more called on governments at all levels to as a matter of urgency nip in the bud future re occurrence and the perpetrators of these barbaric acts be brought to face the wrath of the law. As human lives are sacred and must be treated as such, in line with the teachings of the revealed books.

    “More so, our concern is why was the park targeted? It seems there is a design to set the entire north on crises and by extension, the whole country, starting with Kano, after witnessing relative peace in the region.”

     

  • Fulani/Farmers clash: Sultan sues for peace

    Fulani/Farmers clash: Sultan sues for peace

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Fulani herdsmen and farmers to desist from taking laws into their hands whenever there is a misunderstanding between them.

    Abubakar made the call on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Katsina.

    He said “you should always channel your grievances to the appropriate authorities whenever you feel offended,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the meeting.

    Represented by Dan-Malikin Acida, Alhaji Umaru Abubakar, the sultan also urged security agents to ensure that all citizens enjoyed equal treatment.

    “Whenever there is crisis between the two groups, security agents must consider that all parties involved are innocent until proved guilty by a competent court of law,’’ he said.

    He also urged the farmers and herdsmen to always be peace loving because no development could be achieved in crisis.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, urged leaders of the association to address the problems of cattle theft and indiscipline among members of the association.

     

  • Sultan calls for national health conference

    Sultan calls for national health conference

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Friday urged the Federal Government to convene a national health summit to discuss common problems militating against the development of the sector.

    Abubakar made the call while receiving the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in Sokoto.

    He urged the stakeholders to come out with a blue print of action on how to develop the sector for its optimal goals.

    The sultan explained that the summit’s recommendation would be made a policy for the present and future governments to implement and to ensure qualitative healthcare delivery.

    Abubakar said that already, royal fathers from the 19 northern states had resolved to use religious leaders in the fight against polio.

    He said that the approaches from the religious point of view would enable the parents to allow their children to be immunised.

    The sultan said that the monarchs would continue to identify and mobilise people to support the policies and programmes that would improve the health of the people.

    “Without good health, one cannot worship his creator hence, the need for us to come out with strong physical mobilisation and sensitisation on the six childhood killer diseases,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the forum.

    Abubakar commended the efforts of Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State for constructing 230 rural primary health centres across the state.

    He said the projects would ensure active participation of rural people in search of medical attention.

     

  • Sultan seeks total amnesty for Boko Haram members

    Sultan seeks total amnesty for Boko Haram members

    President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar said on Tuesday that the government should grant an unconditional and total amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect as a way of bringing an end to the current insecurity in the country.

    The Sultan, who spoke at the Central Council meeting of the JNI in Kaduna said the government should embrace any member of Boko Haram that has come out to denounce terrorism as such move will give members of the group the confidence to come out and embrace peace.

    The Sultan said, “We have been hearing about terrorism everywhere and everyday. I want to use this opportunity to say that we have heard in the news that Mr. President will be visiting Maiduguri in a couple of days.

    “We want to use this opportunity to call on the government especially Mr. President to see how he can declare total amnesty to all combatants without thinking twice, that will make any other person who picks up arms to be termed as a criminal.

    “If the amnesty is declared, majority of those young men who have been running would come out and embrace that amnesty and I believe that some of them have already come out because we have heard some of the stories in the papers.

    “Even if it is one person and he denounces terrorism, it is the duty of government to accept that one person and see how he can be used to reach others. Whether it is true or not, the government should accept that person first, evaluate him and see whether he is genuine or fake.”

    He denounced those criticising northern leaders, accusing them of doing nothing to address the problems in the north saying, “people have been saying we are not doing anything as leaders in the north. We have done a lot more than what any other person have done and I want to commend all of you for what you have been doing and we will continue to do so despite the criticism.

    “We will continue to call on the government to be just in whatever they do because the bottom line of the problem facing us has been injustice meted out to the people. By the grace of God, we will continue talking to government.

    “We are facing a lot of challenges in this country and as Muslims, we own it as a duty to ensure that we contribute positively to peace and stability in this country.

    “We have been talking and will continue talking. We will not get tired of talking until the Almighty Allah takes us away. We believe that it is only when we talk and dialogue that issue will become clearer. I believe we are all patriotic and love ourselves and our neighbor as the Almighty Allah said.”