The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Sunday, warned Nigerians against attributing all acts of violence to religion.
The Sultan stated this during a dinner held in his palace for religious leaders, security agencies and media practitioners.
He noted that Muslims have faced more marginalized in the country but they do not complain.
The Sultan said, “If criminals are doing bad things, they are criminals and they can be found anywhere in any religion and tribe. Therefore don’t add religious or tribal toga to any act of terrorism.”
“Fulani men are only after their cattle not after any government or its policies and programmes. How can they carry weapons, to go and do what with it?”
Speaking on the accusation of a northern agenda, the Sultan said, “When there is a vacant position and a Hausa man is appointed, we called it ‘Northernisation’ and when a Muslim leader visit an Islamic country we say he is trying to Islamise Nigeria.”
“In fact, there are many people from other religion and tribes occupying other offices and we witness many Christian leaders who have visited Christian countries but nobody said they were planning to ‘Christianise’ the country.”
He cautioned the elites in Nigeria to desist from fostering hate amongst innocent Nigeria, saying that the elites are responsible for the problem of Nigeria.
“Whenever one loses power, he creates problem, and the masses are always at the receiving end.”
He is right this time.
He is right this time.