We must not allow ethnicity, religion to destroy our relationship, Sultan tells Ndigbo

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Monday in Enugu appealed to Ndigbo not to allow ethnic differences destroy relationship between the two regions.

Speaking during the official reception of Rangers Football Club of Enugu for their victory at the 2016 Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL by the Enugu State Government, the Muslim spiritual leader said that it is improper to call all armed herdsmen who kill and destroying people’s farmlands as Fulani indigenes.

The Sultan said people who engage in such acts in whatever guise should be regarded as criminals and should be treated as such, pointing out that Islamic religion abhor killing or forcing one to be converted to Islamic religion.

“We are not to kill anybody because of religion. We must not allow bad ones to spoil our unity. There are many good Nigerians.  There are many good Nigerians. There are criminals everywhere. It is not the issue of religion.  You don’t Islamize a people by killing them.

“There is no compulsion in religion. Our problem in extremism.  Islam does not support violence. As a good Muslim or Christian, we must love one another,” the Sultan admonishes.

The Moslem spiritual leader also said that many people have been mistaking President Buhari and imputing what they feel his intentions are but noted that Buhari is a different person.

He said that he had met with President Buhari on several occasions but he had a different view together.

“What the people are thinking is not what Buhari is thinking. I have spoken with him on several occasions.  Justice is the bedrock of every governance,” he said.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said that the Sultan had been a great supporter of Rangers even when he was in Enugu as a military officer.

Ugwuanyi presented a cheque of N41.5 million to the victorious team and also promised a parcel of land to the players.