The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has refuted assertions by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian religious leaders regarding the persecution of Christians in the country, particularly in the northern region.
Addressing the first quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja on Thursday, March 12, the Sultan of Sokoto reaffirmed that there is no religious persecution in the country. He implored religious leaders not to allow terrorists to sow discord across the nation.
“It pains me when we gather at NIREC or other meetings and agree on measures that would promote religious peace, unity and tolerance; but shortly after, you will begin to hear stories of persecution here and there,” the Sultan of Sokoto expressed.
He emphasized the need for religious leaders to be mindful of their influence and refrain from making statements that could incite tensions among the people.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, also supported the Sultan’s assertion of the absence of religious persecution in the country. Mustapha, highlighting the massive influence and loyalty of religious leaders among Nigerians, urged them to be cautious of their utterances and avoid making statements that could provoke discord among the populace.