The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has urged Nigerians to refrain from criticizing their leaders.
The revered Muslim leader made this call during the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in partnership with International Alert, on Monday.
He urged Nigerians to intensify their worship of God instead and trust in divine judgment upon the leaders.
Sultan of Sokoto highlighted that both positive and negative circumstances are transient and encouraged the populace to persist in their prayers for their leaders and the nation as a whole.
He reminded those in leadership positions that the Almighty would hold them accountable on the Day of Resurrection, with no one available to intercede on their behalf before their Creator.
Additionally, he warned religious leaders against exploiting their followers for personal benefit, noting that a significant majority—90 percent—of individuals who attend religious services in mosques and churches place their faith in these leaders, perceiving them as sources of salvation. He asserted that true salvation can only be granted by God.
He said: “Do your best in worshiping Allah (God) and leave the rest to Him, not to anybody. Don’t follow those who will lead you astray. So many things have been happening in this country, and we believe we must return to Allah. Intensify prayers for our country in all mosques. I won’t mention churches because the CAN President is here, and I believe he will say the same thing.”
“A lot of people say we have never had it so bad, but no matter how difficult it is, ease will come. We believe nothing lasts forever. Nothing bad and nothing good lasts forever. Let us intensify prayers in our congregations and encourage our followers to pray for our leaders. We will not castigate them; we will allow Almighty Allah to deal with them as He wishes, and He will.
“Like one of the speakers said, Allah will ask all of us what we did with the leadership He gave us on earth. On that day, you will be on your own; nobody will be there for you. No deputy governor will be there for the governor, no special adviser or SSG will be there.
“You are on your own, as I always say. All of us will be on our own. Let us fear Allah in whatever we do and pray for our country. We are blessed; go around to other countries and see. We have challenges, yes, but nothing lasts forever. With hard work and commitment, we can become a better country.
“The North faces many problems and challenges—not only a lack of knowledge about climate change but also poverty and insecurity in the north known for progress and peace in the past.
“Our coming together is a unifying occasion for us as one family in the North. There are many misunderstandings and misrepresentations by those trying to divide us. They know that the strength of the North is something to reckon with, not only in Nigeria but worldwide.
“If we are united, we can face any challenge. If we are united, we will definitely create a better and more prosperous community. That’s why so many negative comments are made about certain issues that we know are not true but to divide us.”
There Is Humanitarian Crisis In The North – CAN President
On his part, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Reverend Dr. D.C. Okoh, articulated that climate change is an undeniable reality in the northern region, characterizing it as a humanitarian crisis that necessitates immediate action.
He called for a comprehensive approach to tackle all underlying sources of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and limited access to resources.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of public education regarding the effects of climate change and the critical role of environmental stewardship.
He also echoed the Sultan’s call for community leaders to speak truthfully, asserting that Nigeria, a nation deeply rooted in religious beliefs, can only thrive through prayer and the pursuit of divine guidance.
In his remark, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said his administration has implemented several proactive measures to address climate change and its associated effects.
“We have developed a Policy on Climate Change to safeguard the future of our environment and people. The Policy outlines our vision for a Climate-Resilient Kaduna State, detailing objectives, strategies, and targets for key areas such as sustainable Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Waste Management, Water Resource Management, and Biodiversity Preservation, amongst others” he said
He further commended the Bureau for organizing the event on climate change.
