The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, has firmly rejected claims that Muslims in Nigeria are plotting to eliminate Christians. Speaking on Wednesday, May 6, at the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, the Sultan emphasized that Muslims have no intention of wiping out the Christian population.
Sultan's Statement on Religious Coexistence
Addressing fears of a religious agenda, the Sultan declared: "Today, as I stand here, I want to affirm that Muslims are not in a hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the population of Christians in Nigeria. We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christians from Nigeria. No, it is not possible." He urged Nigerians to separate crime from religion and cautioned against mislabeling violence as religious.
Condemnation of Religious Violence
The Sultan, who also serves as the president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), condemned acts of violence carried out in the name of religion. He stated: "Somebody can go to the market, blows his or herself up, kill people and shout 'Allahu Akbar.' Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives." He stressed that those who commit such acts are criminals, not true adherents of Islam.
Call for Accurate Narrative on Insecurity
The Islamic leader urged Nigerians to rethink how insecurity is described, warning against attaching religion to criminal acts. "Let us get the narrative right, it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it. Let us call them what they are, criminals, not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits. Even if someone claims to be Muslim, what they do goes against Islam," he said.
Importance of Education and Understanding
The Sultan highlighted the role of ignorance in fueling religious tensions and warned against false claims of religious authority. He noted: "The fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important." He called for both Muslims and Christians to coexist in an environment of respect, stability, and understanding.
Other Voices on Insecurity
In related remarks, former Senator Shehu Sani blamed corruption for Nigeria's prolonged battle with banditry and terrorism. Sani alleged that resources meant for junior officers often did not reach them, and that Nigeria's security agencies in the past did not fully dedicate themselves to service.
The Sultan's comments come amid ongoing concerns about religious violence in Nigeria. He co-chairs the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council alongside Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation. The meeting aimed to foster interfaith dialogue and promote peace.
