The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar has called on Nigerians to desist from using religion and ethnicity to cause a breach of peace, and violence.
“We should never use our religious, cultural or ethnic affiliations to perpetrate or encourage violence, insecurity or sow the seeds of discord and disunity.
“Such obnoxious factors should also never be used by any selfish and unpatriotic Nigerian in whatever guise to overheat the nation’s polity,’’ he added.
Abubakar spoke at a special Sallah lunch with the leaders and members of the resident communities in Sokoto on Saturday.
According to the Sultan, violence breeds violence and under-development while causing mayhem or violence in whatever form or for whatever reason does nobody any good.
“There will not be any meaningful socio-economic development in a society where violence and chaos prevail.
“God has created us with diverse religious and ethnic background to co-exist harmoniously as a united force.
“These differences amongst Nigerians were allowed by God to unite us not to separate and disunite us,’’ Abubakar said.
The monarch promised that traditional institutions in the country would not relent in their determined effort to ensure the sustenance of an indivisible country.
“The country belongs to all of us and we have to collectively ensure that it remains as one Nigeria. Nigerians should also continue to fervently pray in this direction.
“Nigerians should continue to be law-abiding and cooperate with the various security agencies in their ongoing commendable efforts to stem the tides of insecurity and other forms of criminality,’’ the Sultan urged.
He also called on the people to help in identifying suspected persons, while landlords should assist by collecting and collating data of all tenants.
Abubakar commended governors in the country for transforming their states and hailed Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno for ongoing efforts to restore peace and unity in the state.
The spokesman of the communities, Mr Innocent Udeh, commended the sultan for the gesture, urging other religious, traditional and political leaders to emulate him.
“Such laudable gestures would help in further uniting the country and solidifying the bonds of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
“The sultan is a bridge builder who is non-tribal and an ardent promoter of religious harmony both in Nigeria and abroad,’’ he added.
