The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday urged politicians to ensure sustained peace and unity of the country.
Sultan Abubakar gave the advice in his Eid-el-Fitr message to Nigerians delivered in Sokoto.
He said that the challenges being encountered in the country were numerous and were mostly initiated by some selfish politicians.
He said: “As we are approaching the political era, it is our hope that politicians in the country will allow the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“Moreover, our youths should stay peaceful and not allow any selfish politician to use them in distracting the relative peace and unity in the country.
“Distraction of peaceful democracy in any society will only set it back in all areas of human development.”
The monarch further urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of the security agencies toward securing the country, pointing out that security is a collective responsibility.
He praised the efforts of the federal and Sokoto state governments towards restoring the lost glories of the educational and agricultural sectors, and called on Nigerians to support such efforts.
The royal father urged Muslims to reflect on, and uphold the virtues of Ramadan, which he said includes patience, perseverance and brotherliness.
While wishing all Nigerians happy Sallah celebration, the Sultan appealed to them to sustain their prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, state governors and all other leaders in the country.
Emir Sanusi tasks leaders, warn youths against drug abuse
On his part, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, called on the government at all levels to take appropriate measures to address the educational backwardness of the people of Northern Nigeria.
He also urge government to curb the menace of drug abuse, which he said has become a canker worm in the society.
Speaking shortly after the Eid-el-Fitr sermon held at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground yesterday, the Emir observed that the North has been left behind educationally.
The rise in social vices, he said, is occasioned by the high rate of illiteracy, which he said is becoming a source of concern to North’s leaders.
He said: “It is thigh time Northerners wake up from their slumber and critically reflect on the backward role they are occupying, making others to look down on them.
“I believe that it is this same social phenomena that spurs our teeming youths to ignorantly be on hard drugs, leading thousands of them to abandon the vigorous pursuit of their academic agenda to waywardness.
“If Northerners really want to do things differently, we must do away with idleness and remain focused in our drive to attain self-actualization or else remain in perpetual poverty of the mind, which is more dangerous than that of the pocket.”
He used the opportunity to call on the Muslim Ummah to be their brothers’ keepers, adding: “I urge you to use the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitr to extend hands of friendship to our neighbours who are not of the same faith.
“Let’s stay together as Nigerians and work towards her socio-economic prosperity and overall development for the betterment of all.”
Ooni felicitates with Muslims
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, felicitated with Muslims all over the world on the successful completion of the Ramadan.
The traditional ruler charged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of religious tolerance to enable them to coexist peacefully with the adherents of other religious faiths.
He described the Ramadan as a month of purity and faithfulness for the Muslims all over the world, and urged Muslims to emulate Prophet Mohammed, who remains an embodiment of the tenets of Qur’an and principles of Ramadan.
Oba Ogunwusi, while admonishing the Muslim faithful to abstain from any act of ungodliness, bemoaned the attitude of some people in positions of authority, who during or after Ramadan, refuse to desist from ungodly acts. And “purify your souls, repent your wrongdoings, observe self-sacrifices and devote your attentions to peaceful coexistence with members of other religious sects, as all human beings serve one single God.“
The Ooni, who is currently on a two-week peace and unity visit to Brazil, sent the goodwill message through a statement.