Nigerian Muslim leaders have warned political leaders and authorities to desist from disrespecting the traditional institution and its holders, especially where such is combined with Islamic leadership.
The leaders under the aegis of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) gave the warning after the meeting of its General Purpose Committee (GPC), which was led by the secretary-general, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
NSCIA, in an 11-point communique signed by secretary-general Prof. Is-haq Oloyede after its Expanded General-Purpose Committee (EGPC), which prominent traditional rulers attended, expressed absolute confidence in the organisation’s president general and Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, for his exemplary leadership and committed service to Islam and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
The council resolved to protect the Sultan of Sokoto from any form of ‘disrespect’ by the political leaders and governments, insisting any iota of disrespect to the Sultan of Sokoto is a direct affront to the Islamic faith and its adherents in Nigeria.
“The NSCIA strongly advises government and political leaders at all levels to continue to accord the traditional institution and its holders the due respect that they deserve, especially where such is combined with Islamic leadership. This is to ensure the protection of our cultural and religious heritage for sustainable peace and national development.
“The Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, long before independence, unanimously resolved to entrust its leadership to an established Islamic institution that Muslims all over the country believe would always command the desired respect and attract the highest regards of the reasonable of all and sundry.
It, therefore, behooves the custodians of such institution to also reciprocate by acting in a manner that shows, both in words and deed, respect for Islam, its institution and the feelings of the generality of the Ummah. Any iota of disrespect to the institution is a direct affront on the Faith and its adherents,” the communique reads in part.
LEADERSHIP recalls that NSCIA’s stand is a reaction to recent developments regarding the Sokoto State government’s perceived disrespect of the Sultan.
Recall that the Sokoto State government submitted a bill to the state’s House of Assembly seeking to amend legislation on the appointment of traditional rulers in the state. If passed into law, the bill would, among other things, strip the Sultan of the power to appoint kingmakers and district heads without government approval. There were also speculations that the Sokoto government was planning to depose the Sultan, but the state government dismissed it as efforts by “mischief makers” to embarrass it. The administration added that the government’s relationship with the Sultanate Council has always been cordial and would remain so.
As the president-general of the NSCIA, the Sultan of Sokoto is the number one leader of all Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the Council strongly advised government and political leaders at all levels to continue to accord the traditional institution and its holders the due respect that they deserve, especially where such is combined with Islamic leadership.
NSCIA also expressed grief over the upsurge of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country, urging the government at all levels to re-energise intelligence gathering as complementary to the laudable efforts of security agencies.
“Insecurity is by far the most existential concern to the Nigerian nation as it also poses a great danger to food security in the country. Therefore, the meeting urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, increase the current laudable tempo of curtailing insecurity in the country,” it said.