The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has accused politicians of polluting religions in the country with filthy money and turning religious leaders into cahs-and-carry people.
Sultan Abubakar, who spoke today, Tuesday, at the opening of a programme organized by International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), which focus on Intra-religious Understanding in Nigeria, said: “we have seen crisis and heard that some churches were given billions. We have seen scenarios where Islamic clergy were invited for a programme and given transport money by politicians.
“We must use our religious book to settle our differences. God almighty cannot be wrong in choosing a leader at any time. We have just stated the process of fostering unity among different religions.”
Sultan Abubakar who said Nigeria is going through difficult times economically, said that both Christians and Muslims need to come together to fulfill God plans for the country.
“I am happy to see both Christians and Muslims here today. I am also happy that I am here. As Muslims, when we preach to our followers, we must tell them the truth. And as Christians, when we preach to our followers, we must do what we preach. If it is negative, it will affect us. It is important we hold our religions in a sincere manner. We must stand up and fight what divide us.
“We must ensure that we return to the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) which was formed by Methodist Prelate emeritus, Very Rev. Sunday Nbang and Sultan Machido.”
Speaking on the herdsmen killings in some parts of the country, the Sultan insisted that any Fulani man found with guns should be treated as a terrorist.
“The Fulani people we see in the villages hold no guns; they hold stick. Any Fulani man you see with gun, treat him as a terrorists. Those who take revenge, whether they do it proportionately, it is wrong to take a life.
“The people killed can be Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba or anyone. Most of the herdsmen holding guns might not be Nigerians. If they are Nigerians, they are criminals and we must treat them as such.”
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Ayo Olasugbo, represented by Rev. Oluwoye Oyesoji, said that the agreement between Christians and Muslims to come together to foster unity is commendable, adding that the relationship between the two must be strengthen.
“Whatever the organizers want CAN to do for peace, we will do it without any reservation. Since the people sitting here are not holding guns, we must go back and re-oriented our people not to carry arms.”
The Director General of KAICIID, Fahad Abualnasr, in a visual message presented through a power point, said that the organization wants to address the problem facing the world which is global extremism and violence.
International Dialogue Centre KAICIID Senior Adviser, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, said that they have been preparing for a very long time to bridge the gap between policy makers and the different components of the society.
“In many parts of the world, people are not immune to religious violence. This is what we intend to address,” he said.
The Director General (DG), Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Oshita O Oshita said that it took them one year to organize the programme in partnership with International Dialogue Centre.
He said that they are looking for a framework for sustainability which has always been the problem on inter-religious peace building. [myad]
