- On arrival in Abuja, Naik called NAF “Muslim Airforce,’ Immigration ‘Muslim Immigration’
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar on Thursday defended his invitation of Indian fugitive and terrorists’ sympathizer, Zakir Naik, on speaking tour of Nigeria, saying that Muslims have the right to invite their fellow brother for interaction.
Fifty-eight-year-old Zakir Naik, who fled India in 2016 amid charges of spreading hatred and money laundering, is living in Malaysia where he has been given permanent resident status by the Malaysian government.
He was invited by the monarch to attend the 10th Sheikh Usman bin Fodiyo week which ended on Thursday in Sokoto.
Naik had ignited controversy on his arrival in Nigeria when he called Nigerian Air Force (NAF), ‘Muslim Airforce.’
In another group photograph with some Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) personnel, he called them ‘Muslim Immigration.”
He posted his controversial comments and pictures of NAF and Immigration personnel on X, formerly Twitter, during his arrival to Nigeria through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.
He even tagged his picture with Sultan of Sokoto as “Interaction With Heads of State.”
The Sultan, who is is also the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI) and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), responded to criticisms of the cleric’s visit to Nigeria.
According to the Sultan: “Islam is one every where you go. As a Muslim, we have the right to invite fellow Muslim to interact with us. I met Dr Zakir Naik over 11 years ago.
“Sokoto is happy to receive you. We are Muslims and we are proud to be one. We are working for Islam not for everybody.
“We are Muslim by Allah divine will and nobody will change that. We thank Almighty Allah for making us Muslims,” he said during the closing ceremony held at the International Conference Centre, Sokoto.”
The Sultan said the visiting scholar was able to educate Muslims and non-Muslims on what Islam is all about.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the former Minister of Defence, Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, reaffirmed the loyalty of the millions of Muslims in the country to the monarch.
“We are behind you in all that you are doing to promote Islam and Foster peace and unity in the country,” he said
The Governor of Sokoto state, Ahmed Aliyu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bello Sifawa stressed the important of knowledge in human and societal development.
“This is why the present administration makes repositioning and revitalizing religious knowledge one of its 9-point agenda,” he said
Governor of Kebbi state, Muhammad Nasir Idris, assured the Sultan of their continuous support.
Zakir Naik was booked by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) after his name cropped up during the probe of a terror attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery (cafe) in Dhaka’s posh diplomatic area, claimed by the Islamic State terror group.
Twenty people, mostly foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack on July 1, 2016 after the attackers took diners and restaurant staff hostage.
The same year, India’s counterterrorism agency filed a complaint against Naik, accusing him of promoting religious hatred and other unlawful activities. On November 17, 2016, his group, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was declared an unlawful organisation under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), accused of allegedly promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race.
In defending himself, Naik said he has never told anyone to resort to terrorism.