Spare Nobody In Fight Against Hate Speech, Sultan Tells Government

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sunday charged the Federal Government to be “decisive in dealing with those who are bent on heating up the polity with hate speeches, no matter how highly placed they may be.”

Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), made the disclosure in a statement to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.

He also expressed worry that insecurity has degenerated rapidly from a state of benign manageability to intractable malignancy, saying: “This situation, which seems to preoccupy the attention of the Federal Government at the expense of other issues in the socio-political and economic spectra, appears increasingly problematic.”

He added: “Today is a day of sacrifice. We must seek divine intervention in all our activities. I appeal to all of you to pray for the peace and unity of the country. We should pray and support our leaders to succeed in the effort of sustaining the peace and progress of the nation. We have seen a lot of commitments and dedication to the fight against insecurity. With our support and fervent prayers, we will surely succeed.”

Other Muslim groups also re-echoed concerns about the nation. While wishing faithful in Nigeria and those performing hajj in Makkah a prosperous Eid-ul-Adha, The Muslim Congress (TMC) President Luqman AbdRaheem appealed to government to curb insecurity, militancy, poverty, rising unemployment, and hopelessness.

“Similarly, we urge all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations to live together as brothers. Let us demonstrate transparent honesty, prudence, and faithfulness as leaders and followers in moving the nation forward. The country is indeed unhealthy and requires our fervent prayers,” he said.

Lagos State Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) President Saheed Asafa also urged Muslims to intensify prayers for the development of the country. According to him, “While celebrating, we must remember that many Nigerians are still in kidnappers’ dens and many families live between hope and fear, some lacking food to eat. We must be magnanimous in celebration and remember the needy. We should increase our prayers for Nigeria for things not to get worse in the country.”

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Director Ishaq Akintola noted: “There is hope on the horizon. Nigeria is on the path of greatness. The panacea to our challenges is not far-fetched. First, we must change our mindset and believe that we can be great again. We must determine to rebuild our country, to love our neighbours and to shelve corruption.

“This is part of the re-engineering of the Nigerian mindset. Initiate an intention to start the new Nigeria. Let the change begin with you. Eliminate that negative belief that everyone is corrupt and nothing can work in your country. Drop that negative idea that it is impossible for us to live together. Prayer is the sword of those who have faith in God. We must follow our intention to change Nigeria with prayer and start working towards it. Prayer is good but we must work to follow it up.”