The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has dismissed the perception that Islam is aimed at capturing power in Nigeria.
He stated this at the unveiling of the book, ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ authored by a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, in Abuja.
“I also want to correct the notion when Bishop (Matthew) Kukah talked about Islamism. You use some words maybe in the wrong manner, or somebody might feel Islamism is negative.
“Islamism is not aimed at seizing power at any particular forum. Islam is after good governance in society,” he stated.
“President Goodluck Jonathan was President; we gave him 100 per cent support. Throughout his presidency, nobody said anything negative against him; he knows that, and he is here.
“So, Islamism is not what you think it is; it is a wrong notion that you are bringing up here that it is to seize power. It is not to seize power. We’re after good governance,” he added.
The Sultan said he had been accused of speaking against the second term of former President Muhammadu Buhari when he spoke about Islam and good governance in 2011, an action he said he took because it was the right thing to do.
“In September 2019, I gave a talk on Islam and good governance in Nigeria. President Buhari was just going for his second term.
“After giving my talk, the following day, the papers carried it [that] I was aiming at President Buhari’s second term because I said things that a good Muslim should do as a leader and what he should not do.
The monarch also explained that Muslims are guided by a code of conduct, adding that Islam abhors extremism.
“And these are written. So, we have a code of conduct; we have ways and means of life; the Holy Quran and the Hadith of our most noble Prophet (SA), and the consensus of the Ulama, that is, the clerics.
“These are the three things guiding us. Anybody coming outside these to say things that he really doesn’t know about is not for Islam because Islam abhors extremism.
“You cannot be an extremist and then claim to be a good Muslim. So, let’s learn some of these issues, and then when we are talking about insecurity in our great country, we have to be careful in how we say things, how present them.
“So, let’s come closer as one big family with different backgrounds to forge ahead to make this country a better country, because there is nothing anybody can do,” the Sultan stated.
The religious leader, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, further dismissed the notion that Jihad was aimed at killing non-Muslims.
“Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim by a Muslim. Jihad means to strive, and in whatever you do in life, you strive to be the best you can be.
“You strive to be a good Muslim, you strive to be a good Christian, you strive to be a good farmer, or a good engineer.
“So, Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim; that’s a wrong notion people have been airing out for decades,” he added.
The monarch commended General Irabor for his service to the nation and for sharing his wealth of experience as a military officer who was involved in the fight against insecurity in the country. (CHANNELS)
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