Leaders must speak against violence – Sultan

The President of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 had tasked Nigerian leaders to always speak strongly against violence to send message to the perpetrators to desist from it.

The Nigerian Muslim Supreme leader who made this known Monday at the 2022 First Quarter Meeting of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja stated that Nigeria is witnessing serious problem like any other part of the world which should be everyone’s concern.

Focusing on the theme of the meeting, “Education for Peace and Nation Building” Sultan Sa’ad who was also the Co-Chairman of NIREC emphasized the importance of education saying that education is light while knowledge is life.

His words, “Knowledge is light and education is life. You must have knowledge to even worship God. We must plan this year well to work out good for us. We have serious problem in Nigeria and the whole world as well. We are all concerned as leaders, Innocent peoples’ blood are being wasted. We must speak strongly against violence. If we don’t, we will face serious question from our creator who gave us the privilege of being leaders.

“NIREC is a body of 60 honest Nigerians that are very much concerned about the wellbeing of the nation. We must think of what the public says about us” he stated.

Speaking earlier, President, Christian Association of Nigeria and Co-Chairman of NIREC, Samson Olasupo Ayokunle said the best education anybody can acquire was love for one another.

Rev. Ayokunle informed that when brotherly love was absent, it would always result to division as education with true brotherly love will lead to tolerance.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha represented by Mr. Maurice Nnamdi, Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of SGF said the theme for the meeting, which was: “Education for Peace and Nation Building’ at this present situation in the country where there is strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), will be an opportunity to discuss the value of peace and education that can contribute to nation building.

Mustapha also thanked NIREC leadership for making effort to resolve ASUU impasse with Federal Government for educational life of the nation to move forward, saying basic quality education can be achieved in a peaceful environment.

In his introductory remarks, Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua said that to produce a healthy society, hope for the future must be assured through a functional system of education.