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  • CAN lauds stoppage of installation of Sultan in Edo

    CAN lauds stoppage of installation of Sultan in Edo

    Christian Association of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, has hailed the checking of the botched plan to install a Sultan in Benin, saying it is a grand design to Islamize the state.

    A statement by Bishop Oriname Oyonnude Kure, Chairman, Edo CAN, read, “The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Edo State, has been drawn to the purported plan by a certain Arab tribe from Borno State in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, known as Shuwa Arab to install a Sultan in the great Benin Kingdom of Edo State. What a provocative assault on the Traditional institution in Edo State?

    “This is part of the subterranean grand design to Islamize our state in particular and Nigeria in general.

    “This sacrilegious act must not be allowed to fester in our state under any guise as it could cause very serious unrest as it challenges our traditional institutions and values of our people. It amounts to duplicity of traditional leadership in Benin Kingdom and it will surely work against the peaceful coexistence of the people.

    “This act is totally against the peace of our land and, therefore, unacceptable as it is capable of igniting fracas in Edo State. The Christian Association of Nigeria, Edo State condemns it totally in its entirety. It should be shelved and never again should it be contemplated.

    “The Benin Kingdom has only one King with the title of Oba that dates back to the OGISO ERA well over 1000 years ago. This so called Shuwa Arab have no cultural, traditional and consanguinal affinity with Edo people and, therefore, has no part in traditional institutions of Edo State and her people. Edo people’s friendly disposition in accommodating strangers should not be taken for granted and abused,” he added.

  • Lack of food fueling insecurity in Nigeria – Sultan

    Lack of food fueling insecurity in Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Saad Abubakar, says Nigeria is drifting away from the normal, adding that food scarcity is causing insecurity.

    The Sultan, who said that a hungry man was an angry man, spoke on Thursday in Gombe State during the third National Summit of Peaceful Co-existence and Nation building, with the theme, ‘Peaceful Co-existence Social Cohesion and National Development,’ organised by Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria.

    He said, “The problems of Nigeria are mounting up every day, let’s not deceive ourselves that things are getting better, things are not getting better.

    “What we lack in this country is the sincerity and honesty to implement the solutions because no religion has asked anybody to kill somebody. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping are thriving businesses in this country now and people can’t move freely.

    “So many people are hungry because they can’t afford food prices which keeps going high…Ensure adequate food supply because of the common man.

    “Without food, you can’t have peace, without peace, you can’t have security, without security you can’t have development, and without development you are just a bunch of people sitting down together. Therefore, we must rise up to the occasion, whatever it will cost. A hungry man is an angry man.”

    Speaking further, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was represented at the event by Rev. Father Joseph Shinga said, “Nigeria is going through turbulent times; in terms of social integration and cohesion. Suspicion here and there, religious bigotry and sentiments are on the rise. We need to co-exist in peace.”

    In the same vein, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who agreed with the Sultan, said, “I attribute three quarter of the failure of the system to the leadership. The ordinary man too has his own problem; the problem will be there until we tell ourselves the brutal truth and face it head on in order to solve the problem.”

     

  • Constitution review: Sultan canvasses unrestricted usage of the Hijab

    Constitution review: Sultan canvasses unrestricted usage of the Hijab

    Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, has advocated the use of Hijab by Muslim women, without restrictions and in total observance of the freedom of religion in the country.

    The Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), stated this in Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday, at the North West Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitution Review organised by the House of Representatives for Stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.

    Abubakar wondered why the wearing of the Hijab would be a problem for others who were not using it, stressing that the other religions could also be encouraged to adopt what their religions ordered them to do.

    “The most important issue is the issue of religion. Almighty God created us to worship Him and you must protect my rights as a Muslim, in whatever documents you are going to bring and there are no two ways about it.

    “I must have freedom to worship Allah the way Almighty says I should worship Him. So, why do people make too much noise about Shariah and its implementation?

    “It is all about our lives as Muslims from the day of our birth till we die. So, look at the way to protect the interests of Muslims that constitute over 50 per cent of this nation’s population. Whether in the North, East, South or West.

    “I believe Nobody should stop me from practising my religion and I must practice it to the best of my ability, without tampering with other religions or their freedom. You can pick a stone and keep it in your home; that is the problem between you and your God, not me.

    “There are so many cases where young girls were denied the right to use their Hijabs in schools. Why is it that the use of the Hijab becomes a problem to those people who are not using Hijab?

    “On the other hand, we should even encourage persons of other faiths to do what their religions ordered them to do. And that is how we will live in peace,” he said.

  • Nigeria in a bad situation, Sultan laments

    Nigeria in a bad situation, Sultan laments

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Wednesday, said Nigerians should not deceive themselves that things are alright.

    He made the comment during a National Security Summit in Abuja.

    “Let us not deceive ourselves that things are alright, things are not alright,” the revered traditional ruler said. “We know it and we see it. For some of us, we have seen so much in our lives.

    “Now things are really very bad. It doesn’t take anybody to know that Nigeria is in a very bad situation and it is a fact.”

    He explained that for over 11 years as a traditional ruler, he has participated in several discussions on Nigeria’s national security, noting that it is time for leaders to execute actions rather than mere talks.

    While commending the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for initiating the National Security Summit, the Sultan called for the implementation of the resolutions of the summit.

    The traditional ruler expressed happiness that both the Speaker and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, have admitted that things are not well with the country.

    He added, “In the last one and a half months, we have had three serious gatherings like this with the highest security echelons, leaderships in the country.

    “Today, we are here once again to talk on the same issues of national security. I think enough of these talks, let us walk the talk.

    “The more we sit here and talk, the more time we waste in taking real actions because we know the problems.”

    Nigeria has been battling terrorism, among other security challenges, for more than a decade which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the northeast.

    The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

    On March 1, Boko Haram burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops and killing six civilians.

    The insurgency has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon, and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

  • There will be no war in Nigeria – Sultan

    There will be no war in Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and co-chair of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said the country will not go to war again despite agitations for disintegration from different quarters.

    The Sultan who spoke at the second quarterly meeting of NIREC in Abuja yesterday said he would always advocate for dialogue as a way to achieve peace.

    “People have been talking about war; there will not be war in Nigeria, who is going to fight who? In families we have Christians and Muslims; you have ethnic nationalities in your country; you have inter-married.

    “So, all this noise people are making is trying to draw attention to what they can get out of this country and if you look at them, they are in the minority. In this country, there are excellent people that mean well for the common man and humanity and that is what God created us to do”, he said.

    The Sultan said he remained a believer in dialogue which his religion has advocated.

    He stated: “So, let’s continue to work together; let’s continue to sit together; let’s continue to dialogue. I am a total believer in dialogue and nothing will change my mind because my religion teaches me to always dialogue.

    “And I believe no problem is too big to be resolved when we sit down and talk because even wars are fought to bring peace but if you know you can bring peace without fighting war, then why do you have to take up arms.

    Abubakar, however, acknowledged that things were bad in the country, as insecurity has adversely affected the country’s growth.

    “It is a very trying time for our country, Nigeria, for so many reasons, most notably insecurity which does not allow anybody to do what he or she wants and at the time and place he or she wants.

    “That’s why we are very worried with the way things are in our great country at this time because things are really very stressful and there is no doubt about it, and you don’t have to tell anybody things are bad.

    “To travel short distances today calls for serious prayers and traveling with perhaps security personnel because of kidnapping for ransom, ritual killing, armed robbery, insurgents attack, banditry and other forms of violence”, he added.

    On his part, president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Samson Ayokunle, said insecurity had paralysed activities across the country.

    Ayokunle, who is also the co-chairman of NIREC, noted that food security had been threatened as farmers are being killed by bandits in their farms.

    “Many things are not right with the nation, the most challenging one today being insecurity, which has almost paralysed all human activities apart from the havoc the restrictive COVID-19 brought.

    “Farmers are threatened on their farms while some have been killed while farming. The result of attacks on farmers is scarcity of farm products which will lead to famine if care is not taken by those in authority.

    While expressing worry over the daily killings of innocent citizens, Ayokunle called on religious leaders to unite and speak against the deplorable state of the nation.

    He cautioned that while breaking up the country may not solve the problem, the government should be proactive in addressing issues that caused the agitations.

    The CAN President also called for more funding of security forces and close monitoring of how the funds were being spent.

    The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the level of insecurity in Nigeria is so high that religious and traditional rulers must assist the government to tackle it.

    Mustapha, who was represented by the permanent security in the SGF’s office, Morris Mbaeri, said, “In every ethnic group, there are good people and there are criminal elements.

    “While the leaders in each ethnic group should caution their children, religious leaders should publicly reject the ideology of those who claim to be killing in the name of religion by giving a counter narrative.”

    He charged NIREC to go beyond statutory meetings to assisting government with useful information “because security is the concern of everybody, no matter where you come from and the religion you practice.”

  • Buhari condoles with Sultan over brother’s death

    Buhari condoles with Sultan over brother’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolence over the death of Alhaji Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, Dikkon Sokoto, the Commissioner of Home Affairs in Sokoto State.

    The deceased was the younger brother of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja, said Buhari conveyed his feelings in a condolence message to the Sultan on Friday.

    The president said: “I have received with great shock and profound sadness the death of your younger brother, Alhaji Jeli Abubakar.

    ”As he answered the call of his creator, may God forgive his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with aljanna. May Allah comfort you over this incalculable loss of your dear brother.”

    Buhari also condoled with the family of the deceased as well as Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State for losing someone dear to all of them.

  • Sultan-led JNI condemns Kukah’s Christmas sermon, calls it a poisoned arrow fired at Muslims

    Sultan-led JNI condemns Kukah’s Christmas sermon, calls it a poisoned arrow fired at Muslims

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam on Wednesday knocked the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah over his homily on Christmas day.

    The organisation described Kukah’s homily as a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims across the country.

    The JNI statement’s is coming three weeks after bishop’s message where he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism.

    However, on Wednesday in Kaduna, a statement titled, ‘Press release on Reverend Kukah’s Christmas homily,’ and authored by the JNI’s Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, described Kukah’s message as “irresponsible and seditious.”

    The statement reads partly, “Though the message is disguised as a political hogwash to deceive the innocent, there is no doubt that it was a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria, hence the need for this intervention.

    “The Bishop statement was a prepared address considering the occasion and the audience; one cannot but agree that it was a calculated attempt to insult Islam which is typical of him.

    “His veiled insinuation that Muslims have a pool of violence to draw from is disgusting, disheartening, as well as condemnable.

    “Responsibly, Christmas homilies should come with messages of hope, unity, mercy, forgiveness of the Supreme Being and resilience through prayers, especially in this trying time.

    “The Bishop’s message was however a clear deviation from well-established norm across the globe.”

  • Insecurity: Occupy Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest to fish out Boko Haram terrorists, Sultan challenges Army

    Insecurity: Occupy Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest to fish out Boko Haram terrorists, Sultan challenges Army

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar pointedly asked Nigeria’s military on Monday why they have not occupied the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad islands, which the Boko Haram terrorists have been using to stage attacks against Nigeria.

    The Sultan, a former Brigadier-general of the army raised the poser when he led a team of traditional rulers on a sympathy visit to Borno Governor Umara Zulum in Maiduguri.

    Borno recently experienced another carnage in Zabarmari, in which 78 rice farmers were killed by Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Sultan made it clear that they did not just come on a sympathy visit. They came to make a strong statement about the insecurity in Nigeria.

    The Sultan did not mince words about the parlous security situation in Nigeria, which he said, is getting worse and worse.

    He expressed exasperation that all the recommendations made have not been implemented.

    “The National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria deem it fit to put a small team to come round to Borno State, Maiduguri in particular to make this very strong statement.

    “It is not just a condolence visit, it is a statement that all of us are fed up with the shedding of innocent blood in whatever guise across this country.

    “So many lives have been lost in the past, we can’t even compute how many lives we have lost. It becomes like a daily occurrence, a daily event. A new normal, it becomes a story when in a day nobody was killed in a particular place of this country”.

    “We had various fora with our political leaders, mentioned these things out, how to take care of our securities in various communities.

    ” We have written papers, sent our Governors, we have discussed with all our leaders, all the way forward.

    “But we see things getting worse and worse. It used to be Boko Haram alone in Borno and Yobe.

    “Now it is all over the north in particular and generally all over the country.

    “You have bandits and terrorists all over the north, you can’t even move freely, in the south it the same thing. The killings have taken new dimensions and we really don’t know what the causes of this mass killings of innocent people are.”

    The Sultan now turned to the military, his former constituency.

    “I read about the comment the Governor made some few weeks ago, challenging the military to take the fight to the Lake Chad to clear that place.

    “Your Excellency while I was a Lieutenant, I was at Lake Chad in Baga for six months, my battalion in Bama used to rotate with the battalion in Monguno and Maiduguri every six months.

    “We occupied Lake Chad part of Nigeria for six months.

    “I was a Lieutenant, I was the operation officer and I have my maps. In Lake Chad that time we had 36 islands under Nigeria, we occupied 16 of them.

    “The biggest was King Nasara. We controlled that part of Nigeria effectively well as a battalion.

    “Now I don’t know why we can’t occupy the whole of Lake Chad and why we can’t occupy the whole of Sambisa Forest.

    “If we want peace we have to dominate these areas.

    “If we want peace, we have to do away with those terrorists who occupy that place and see nothing good in other people except those that believe in their own negative ideas” the Sultan said.

    The visit by the monarchs marked the first time they will venture out to any state or any town specifically to discuss or talk about the happenings in that particular place as regards insecurity and mass killing of innocent people.

    While expressing gratitude to the royal fathers for the special visit, Governor Zulum decried the continuous dependence on donations to feed IDPs as the main source of livelihood.

    The Governor said there is increasing need to provide sources of livelihood to the IDPs and those resettled in rebuilt communities.

    On the trip to Maiduguri with the Sultan were the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemaka Alfred Ugochukwu, Oba Adekunle Adebayo, Ore of Otin, Emir of Hadeja, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, Emir of Fika, Mohammed Abale Ibn Mohammed Idrissa, and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dr. Dandasen Douglas Jaja

  • Sultan to Buhari: Bandits bringing kidnappings to your doorstep is big blow on you, heads must roll

    Sultan to Buhari: Bandits bringing kidnappings to your doorstep is big blow on you, heads must roll

    Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III led Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has told President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure adequate punishment is melted out to security agencies for their slackness over bandits’ abduction of hundreds of students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara, Katsina State on Friday.

    The apex Islamic body in a statement on Monday through its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI stated categorically that, there are lapses in Nigeria’s security architecture that need to be urgently and seriously addressed.

    JNI said that, the boldness of the bandits to carry out the abduction on the day Mr. President arrived Katsina State on a private visit and bring it up to his door step in his presence, is to further test the resolve of his Government.

    It however asked President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the calls from Nigerians to revamp the security architecture and address the nation, adding that, “there are insinuations that for pecuniary benefits, some top echelon among the security operatives don’t want the insecurity to end.”

    “If not, how can one explain the movement of the bandits in their hundreds on motor cycles without being detected? What happens to intelligence gathering that this heinous plan was not uncovered before it was hatched? How comes the bandits took their time, gather the school boys, heaped them on bikes and whisked them away without being rounded up by the security agencies? Mr. President needs to hearken to the call of Nigerians; REVAMP THE SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND ADDRESS THE NATION!

    “The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto received with absolute shock the most unfortunate story of the abduction of students from Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara, Katsina State, after shooting the security guard on the spot, at about 10:45pm on Friday.

    “This abduction in commando style is one tragedy too many coming on the heels of the infamous Zabarmari massacre just not long ago.

    “This indeed is a sad reminder of the abductions of school Girls in Chibok and Dapchi of Borno and Yobe States of North-East Nigeria, and it’s an indicator that the powers that be don’t read the present through the spectacle of the past; this wouldn’t have happened.

    “For the umpteenth time, we will continue to ask: for how long shall the masses continue to live in fear? For how long shall the Federal and State Governments continue to issue empty condemnations whenever tragedies stroke? Is the government and the security agencies so overwhelmed and thus cannot secure the citizens? Are there insurmountable challenges or acts of sabotage that the Government is hiding from the public? These and many more questions continue to bedevil every discerning mind within and outside Nigeria.

    “The Kankara abduction was so belligerently orchestrated that it happened the day Mr. President arrived Katsina State on a private visit. Are the bandits this bold as to further test the resolve of the Government or smite the face of the Commander in Chief by bringing it up to his door step in his presence? This further proves what we once said that the bandits rule in many communities and do as they wish with impunity.

    “If there is any worse outcome than the abduction itself, it is the fact that this is the most potent action to frustrate school enrolment in Northern Nigeria, as no parent will forthwith be comfortable to send their children or wards to boarding school despite the many enrolment campaign efforts by the Government. And it will even be callous for anyone to call on the traumatized parents to expose their beloved children to these unprotected environments to be used as fodder by bandits and insurgents at will.

    “What baffles us the most is the government’s inability to locate the enemy’s actual enclave, the focal point of their strength and to devote all available means to rout them out or incapacitate them.

    “Is it that the political will isn’t there? What really is the challenge or Nigerians don’t deserve to know from the government they elected?

    “We nevertheless in a plangent mood commiserate with the families of the GSSS Kankara victims and wish them safe and immediate reunion with their respective children. We also pray for Allah’s continuous guidance, strength and stamina to all those on the battle fields against all forms of insurrections in Nigeria. In the same vein, we urge the people and Government of Katsina state not to get depressed; Allah, the Most High shall continue to be their strength in-sha’Allah.

    “In light of the above, we call on Governments at all levels to with all urgency do everything possible and use any means possible to return the school boys.

    “The Prayers of the JNI and Nigerian Muslims are therefore that: Government should spare no effort(s) to immediately return all the abducted students of GSSS Kankara. And then there should be no sacred cows – heads must roll for the repeated slackness.

    “Government at all levels in collaboration with different security agencies should proactively rise against the tide of insecurity in whatever guise by nipping it in the bud, before it escalates; We must all be upright in our dealings and remember that we shall all account for our respective actions and inactions, thus we should be God-conscious.

    “We should continue to seek Allah’s intervention to ending these orgies bedeviling our country, as well as return to Allah with all righteousness; repentance, remorsefulness, brokenhearted and seeking for His pardon,” JNI said.

  • Borno massacre is one of most gruesome murder by Boko Haram in Nigeria – Sultan

    Borno massacre is one of most gruesome murder by Boko Haram in Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has described the Borno killing as the most gruesome murder carried out by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

    Boko Haram terrorists had on Saturday stormed Koshebe community killing at least 43 people.

    But speaking on Wednesday during an event in Sokoto, the Sultan asked Nigerian leaders to rise up to the challenge of insecurity facing the country.

    He also called on the Muslim faithful not to forget to pray for god’s intervention to end the security crisis.

    “We are most devastated with what happened in Borno some few days back. It is one of the most gruesome murders carried out in this country for such a large number of people,” he said.

    “We want to go back to the almighty Allah always; there we have peace of mind because he does what he wants to do at the time he wants to.

    “We are not challenging almighty Allah. Rather we are thanking him for opening our eyes the more for us as leaders to wake up to our responsibilities.”

    READ ALSO: Borno Killings: Northern Elders Lament, Claim Life Has Lost Value Under Buhari’s Administration

    Following the deadly attack, there has been conflicting figures on the number of casualties in the troubled northeast.

    While the United Nations put the number of dead victims at 110, the military authorities insist that only 43 were killed.

    The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Mr. Edward Kallon had in a statement on Sunday, condemned the assault, calling for the immediate release of several persons who were kidnapped.

    Kallon further stated that such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing which the UN is striving to alleviate.

    According to him, such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing which the UN is striving to alleviate.

    “I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity,” Kallon said.

    “The entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State is outraged by the incident.