Sultan Rejects Claims of Religious Agenda

By Babatunji Wusu

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed claims that Muslims in Nigeria are working against Christians, insisting there is no religious agenda aimed at harming any faith group in the country.

The respected traditional ruler made the statement during the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja. The gathering brought together religious leaders and government officials who called for stronger dialogue, trust, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Addressing concerns over rising tensions, the Sultan said many violent incidents wrongly receive religious interpretations, a development he believes increases fear and division across communities. He stressed: “Today, as I stand here, I want to affirm that Muslims are not in a hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the population of Christians in Nigeria.”

The Sultan of Sokoto also urged Nigerians to avoid linking criminal activities with religion. According to him, “Let us get the narrative right, it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it…”

Speaking further, he warned against individuals presenting themselves as religious authorities without proper knowledge or understanding. He stated: “the fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important.”

The Sultan of Sokoto maintained that open communication remains the best way to resolve religious and social tensions in the country. He added: “In NIREC, we believe in dialogue… We must trust one another.”

His remarks come amid ongoing national conversations around unity, tolerance, and the need to strengthen peaceful relations between different religious groups in Nigeria.

Do you think religious dialogue can help reduce tensions and build stronger unity in Nigeria?