The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rev. Matthew Kukah, are calling on Nigerians to rise above religious and ethnic differences to promote peace, unity, and good governance. Both leaders say national progress can only happen when citizens work together beyond religious lines.
Speaking at a public forum, the Sultan of Sokoto reminds Nigerians that Islam is about justice and good governance, not the pursuit of power. He stresses that religion should never be used as a political weapon or a tool for division. “Islam is not about seizing power. It is about ensuring fairness, accountability, and peace in society,” he said.
According to the Sultan, some of his past statements on leadership were misinterpreted as political criticism. He clarified that his message remains focused on the moral duties of leaders. “You cannot be an extremist and claim to be a good Muslim. Islam rejects extremism,” he said, urging Nigerians to work together as one family for the nation’s progress.
In his remarks, Bishop Matthew Kukah warns that religious extremism poses a real danger to Nigeria’s unity and democracy. He explains that the manipulation of faith for political gain threatens both Islam and Christianity. “When extremists kill Christians or Muslims, they are attacking Nigeria as a whole,” Kukah said.
He draws lessons from other countries where extremist ideologies caused unrest, stressing that Nigeria must act early to stop such threats. “An injury to one is an injury to all. We must stop the funding and networks that promote division,” he added.
Both the Sultan and Bishop Kukah agree that peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and mutual respect remain the only path to a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
