…From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar stormed Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Friday preaching justice and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians saying the nationals, irrespective of their religious or political leaning should, at all times, endeavour to live peacefully with one another.
The Sultan who was in Ibadan to formally commission the Bodija Estates and Environs Mosque and Islamic Centre also charged Nigerians not to allow ethnic rivalries to cause division among them.
While pledging his commitment towards continued promotion of peace and stability in Nigeria, the Sultan who is also the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamci Affairs, charged the Governments at the Federal, State and Local Government levels in the country to make justice their watchwords.
He said: “In this part of the world, our revered leaders should place high premium on justice and transparency because justice is the foundation of any government. A nation cannot endure on injustice. We have to live by example by adhering strictly to the tenets of Islam. We have to act what we say as people are looking at us.”
The Sultan also expressed his commitment to freedom of religion as enshrined in the nation’s Constitution insisting that there is no compulsion in religious practices.
His words: “We cannot force anybody to accept Islam. Our behavior will make people want to come to us and emulate what we do. Therefore, as muslims, we must live above board and do the right things in our political and private offices.”
The Sultan maintained that Islam is a religion of peace and urged the society to desist from linking acts of terrorism in the country with the religion.
As he put it, terrorism is anti-Islam hence terrorists should simply be so tagged without any reference of them to the religion of Islam.
Dignitaries from different parts of the country graced occasion.