Sultan of Sokoto and spiritual head of the Muslims in Nigeria, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has cried out saying that the north is turning to killing field by bandits and other terrorists operating in the region.
The Sultan, who admitted that bandits were holding the region, especially North West, spellbound, expressed serious concerns that most of the killings were not being reported or actually underreported.
The Monarch made these assertions when he spoke at the opening ceremony of the fourth quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
He accused the elite of being responsible for the unending security challenges ravaging the region.
‘We need to sit down and talk about ourselves. We need to come up with possible solutions to the problems of Nigeria, particularly as regards rising insecurity. In this room, we are the minority, we are the elites and the elites are the problems of this country because we always want things to go our way.’
The Sultan lamented that terrorists unleash terror on communities and kill people on a daily basis in the north ‘freely’ and should be stopped forthwith.
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He continued; ‘Evidently, Nigeria is faced with series of challenges, and if leaders doesn’t wake up, come together to understand the issues facing the country, the challenges might escalate and possibly consume all.
‘Let’s not deceive ourselves, everything is not all right in our country, and I have spoken about it repeatedly in different fora. To know that you have a problem means you have part of the solution. The earlier we rise to the occasion, come together, the better for us.’
The Sultan reminded some religious leaders of the enormous respect, loyalty and followership they command, hence they should guide their utterances and actions particularly towards their followers to avoid unnecessary bitterness and incitement.
‘We have to be careful in the way we handle, say and do things as religious leaders. We are not political leaders, and therefore, we have to be weary of what we say, where and how we say such things because our followers will definitely believe in what we say and feel that it is from the Holy Koran or the Holy Bible.’
President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle Olasupo, who also spoke at the event also complained about activities of kidnappers and other criminals on Nigerian roads.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK