Sultan calls for peaceful relationships in Nigeria

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Friday urged Nigerians to live in peace with one another irrespective of religion, tribe or cultural affiliations.
Abubakar gave the advice during the commissioning of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community Mosque and Islamic Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Sultan also urged Muslims not to allow those who did not want Islam to prosper in the country to divide them.
He said: “We have condemned violence.
“It has no place in Islam and you must give the name terrorist to terrorists.
“Islam does not have anything to do with terrorists.
“Islam is a religion of peace.
“As Muslims, we cannot say something and do the other way round.
“We have to watch what we say.
“People are looking at us.
“We must lead by example so as to tell people what Islam is.”
The Sultan promised to do his best to bring peace and stability to all nooks and crannies in the country.
He urged Muslims to live in peace with their neighbours, irrespective of religion, as there was no compulsion in religion.
“Islam is a religion of peace and Prophet Muhammed lived his life with non-Muslims without violence and with happiness,” the Sultan said.
In a lecture at the occasion, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Oladosu said that the role of the mosque was beyond worshiping alone.
Oladosu said that the mosque served as a place that united the Muslims, whether rich or poor.
He said: “The artificial created differences, ranks, status, positions and designations among members of the people vanish as they step inside the mosque.
“There is no discrimination between the high and the low.”
Earlier, the host Chairman, Alhaji Tiamiyu Giwa, said the mosque cost N86 million and thanked people that contributed to the project.
Giwa condemned the bombings, abduction and killings in some Northern states.
He said: “We condole with the victims of the insurgency and share the grief of the affected families.
“Islam is a religion of peace, which abhors violence in any form.
“We urge all citizens to embrace dialogue in matters in which we have divergence of opinions.”
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Shelkh Suara Haruna; and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, were among dignitaries at the event.