Sultan Urges Christians, Muslims to End Religious Insults, Embrace Peace
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to refrain from insulting one another and embrace mutual respect as a pathway to peaceful coexistence.
The Sultan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development, organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia.
He stressed that neither Christians nor Muslims should consider themselves superior to one another, noting that all human beings are equal before God.
“We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims. Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we live in peace,” the Sultan said.
He added that Nigerians should avoid using religion as a basis for superiority, stressing that God alone determines the ultimate worth of individuals.
“We are not here to say we are better than anybody. We are not better than anybody. He [God] is the creator of us all. He will determine who is better,” he said.
The Sultan’s remarks came days after Islamic cleric Yahaya Jingir reportedly argued that Christians would regard themselves as superior to Muslims if not for the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. The Sultan did not directly reference Jingir’s comments but reiterated that no religious group should claim superiority over another.
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The traditional ruler also called on Nigerians to revive the culture of caring for their neighbours regardless of religious, ethnic or other differences.
“Allah created your neighbour for you. Whoever is your neighbour, you know what is required of you to do for your neighbour,” he said.
The Sultan further expressed concern over the increasing abuse of social media, particularly the spread of false and disparaging claims against public officials.
He warned that Nigerians who deliberately circulate falsehoods about presidents, governors, senators and other leaders would ultimately be accountable to God for their actions.
He urged Nigerians to concentrate on addressing the country’s challenges rather than advocating its disintegration, stressing the importance of preserving national unity.
The Sultan also cited the example of the late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who sheltered more than 200 Christians in his mosque during a crisis in Plateau State, describing the act as a powerful demonstration of humanity and interfaith solidarity.
Also speaking at the conference, Cornelius Omonokhua, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), said humanity preceded religious identity, noting that people were created first as human beings before becoming adherents of Islam or Christianity.
Omonokhua identified mercy as a central principle of religion and said the cooperation between Christian and Muslim leaders demonstrated that the two faiths were not inherently in conflict.
By PRNigeria
