Why Nigeria Is Not Working - Sultan

After a critical review of the state of the nation, the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, yesterday said that so many things are not working in the country because the leaders refuse to allow them to work.

The Sultan said this at a national conference on peace, unity and security organised by JNI in Kaduna said "So many things have gone wrong in this country and things are still going wrong.

"As leaders, we are committed in ensuring justice in whatever we do; we are committed in ensuring that those leaders whom Allah placed on us to lead us do what is right. And we must continue to tell them when they do wrong. No leader is ever right."

The Sultan added that "the reason of our coming together today is to unite our senior brothers and sisters in Islam, especially the Ulama".

"If there is unity amongst Muslims there will be peace; if there is peace amongst Muslims of this great country of ours, there will be total security in Nigeria. If there is security, definitely there will be development.

"What we have been experiencing in the northern part of the country -- in particular the unfortunate incident which has been forced on us for so many reasons.

"I believe it's high time that all of us come together and discuss those things that have been festering in our lives as Muslims in this country," he said.

He noted that "our coming together and sitting together under one roof shows that we are ready to be united. Sitting down to discuss the main issue facing us is a plus for all of us."

To the Muslim community, the Sultan said: "We are very aware of the challenges facing us as Muslims and i believe with constant prayers we shall overcome the challenges and move to the greater heights.

"We must put aside personal interest to put Islam above all. We will not allow anybody to stop us from being Muslim, because that is what we choose to be.

"We will not allow anybody to turn our lives upside down. We will not allow anybody to ascribe any form of violence to Islam. We must come together and solve our problem together.

"I remember in this very hall when President Goodluck Jonathan was campaigning; it was in this very hall we listened to what he wanted to see us for. And we the Muslim leaders gave him our agenda -- what we wanted from him.

"But whether he has done what we told him or not is a different thing altogether. We have not sat down to articulate it because of the so many insecurity problems that came up."



Leadership