Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has once again rejected claims of a planned “Islamisation” of Nigeria, describing such assertions as baseless and divisive.
The Sultan, who spoke on Wednesday May 6, 2026 at the First Triennial Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, said there is no agenda by Muslims to undermine the Christian population, stressing that both religions coexist as part of a divine purpose.
The Sultan, who also serves as Co-Chairman of NIREC and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, highlighted the importance of dialogue in fostering national unity, describing NIREC as a critical platform for engagement, noting his consistent attendance at its meetings over the past two decades as a sign of his commitment to peace.
“We believe talking is better than fighting. Let us understand our differences rather than trying to erase them,” he said, urging mutual respect between adherents of different faiths.
Addressing concerns about religious literacy, the Sultan cautioned against the growing influence of unqualified clerics, emphasising that fluency in Arabic alone does not confer scholarly authority in Islam, just as Christian pastors in some regions preach in Arabic without it defining their theological depth.
He called on religious leaders to deepen their knowledge to better guide followers and prevent the misuse of religion for political or personal interests.
On security, the Sultan condemned the tendency to associate criminal activities with religion. He insisted that bandits and terrorists should not be profiled along religious lines, stressing that Islam does not condone violence against innocent people.
“Anyone who kills an innocent person in the name of religion is going to hell,” he said, adding that many victims of terrorism in northern Nigeria are Muslims.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, he urged faith leaders to build stronger trust with their followers, warning that national progress would remain limited without it.
He also commended NIREC’s collaboration with international partners, referencing recent interfaith engagements in London involving the Church of England and global Islamic scholars aimed at addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
The Sultan expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support and reaffirmed NIREC’s commitment to promoting peace, noting that the council would continue its work regardless of funding constraints.
He added that the visible cooperation between Christian and Muslim leaders serves as a powerful example of unity for communities across the country.