The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Alhaji Mohammed Saad Abubakar III, at the weekend, charged political office holders to see their elections into public offices as a call to service instead of being an avenue to cause disharmony and disaffection in the country.
Abubakar made the charge in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the weekend during the Second World Conference organised by Nashirullahi Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT).
The conference theme was “National Unity, a Precursor to development- Islamic Perspectives.”
According to him, “We must have responsible politicking. When we use politics, let’s use the word, ‘politics’ or the political movement to be a vehicle to take us to the public office to serve the people with the fear of God.”
He said: “You can ride on that vehicle of APC, or PDP or Panadol or whatever it is, go to the public office, lock that vehicle and throw the keys away because you are going to serve anybody who for example as governor is from Kwara State whether he is of PDP or APC, Christian, Muslim, Jew, he must serve all irrespective of their religion inclinations.
“That is what leadership is all about because God that gave you that leadership did not make a mistake and when you lead, you must lead with fear of God. That is the only way there would be peace not only in Kwara but in the entire country.
“People say anything they want. They threaten bloodshed if they don’t get elected and people are just looking at them because they say there is freedom of speech but there is limitation to freedom of speech. When you incite people because this is incitement and we have laws that deal with incitement. These are things we must look into.”
He further stressed the need for Christians to understand one another, noting that no religion teaches violence.
According to him, “If Allah had wanted, he would have made all of us Jew.”
Also in his remarks, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, urged Muslims to be ambassadors of peace, adding that religious leaders should shun partisanship.
The governor, who also called on religious bodies to intensify their philanthropic efforts to lift the poor out of despondency, poverty and disposition to crime in order to check spates of economic related crises in the country.
Such philanthropic gestures, according to the governor, are boundless kindness that could enhance the well being of humanity.
“Kindness is all encompassing. No matter our station in life, we are all capable of and should show kindness to all that we encounter,” he said.
Ahmed described religion as a personal thing that should be practised as such with respect for the rights of others to practice their faith and hold contrary opinions.
Source: Thisday
