Sultan and other Northern Islamic, political leaders warn worsening insecurity is threatening national peace and unity
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Northern Islamic scholars and political leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, have repeated their concern over worsening insecurity North and South, with a warning that Nigeria may descend into greater chaos if decisive action is not taken against terrorism.
Abubakar, who spoke at a special summit of Northern Ulamas in Kaduna, represented by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, counselled Muslim leaders to unite and address the growing misuse of social media and rising insecurity threatening national peace.
“This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah. Our clerics must preach peace, tolerance, and national unity in line with Islamic teachings. Social media must also be regulated because it is increasingly being used to spread division and hatred,” he warned.
House of Representatives Leader Alhassan Doguwa stresed the need for closer collaboration between religious leaders and lawmakers to promote peace and good governance.
“Security is everyone’s business,” Doguwa said. “We in the National Assembly [NASS] will support any initiative that unites our people and upholds Islamic values.”
But Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara West) cautioned against placing all the blame for insecurity on the government because the crisis began in Muslim-dominated communities before spreading across the country.
He insisted that “insecurity started in Muslim-dominated areas. We can’t blame the government alone.
“The solution lies in our hands – in unity, action, and honest dialogue. We’re sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires. It doesn’t work that way. We must face economic realities.
“Social media doesn’t spare anyone – rich or poor. We are all victims of its abuse. It’s time to regulate it and use it responsibly, as other nations do.”
Sheikh Abubakar Gumi sought dialogue among Islamic sects to address poverty and banditry being exploited by external forces.
Said he: “Banditry is being fuelled by outsiders who covet our mineral wealth. They use uneducated herders as pawns in a larger game. We must talk among ourselves and end it internally.”
He also advocated for a review of laws on social media defamation without stifling free expression, stressing that the goal of the summit is national unity and reform, not confrontation.
The summiteers made a collective resolution to strengthen inter-sect cooperation, promote peaceful dialogue, and enhance religious leadership to tackle insecurity, disunity, and economic hardship across the North.
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