Tell The Government To Do Their Job — Nigerians Reacts To Sultan's Recent Statement on Protests

According to the report from the People's Gazette; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for calm and dialogue among the organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests and other key stakeholders. 

In a statement issued on Thursday by Prof. Khalid Aliyu, Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Sultan expressed concern about the potential escalation of the protests into uncontrollable violence. He urged all parties to come to the negotiating table promptly.

“We, in the name of Allah, the Most High, call for an end to the escalating unrest being carried out in the name of protest,” the Sultan said. “There must be a stable country called Nigeria before we can proudly call ourselves Nigerians.”

With Friday's Jumu’ah prayers approaching, the Sultan implored mosque Imams and Muslim leaders to promote peace and discourage chaos, which could disrupt congregational prayers. He cited the Qur’an, emphasizing humility during times of suffering, and stressed that prayer and sincere humility are crucial for overcoming the current crisis.

The Sultan also quoted the Prophet Muhammad, who said, “Supplication is a weapon of the believer and the light of the heavens and the earth,” and called on all Nigerians to engage in continuous prayers for divine intervention.

He highlighted the necessity for Imams to initiate sustained prayers during this period of distress, underscoring that the consequences of the protests spiraling out of control could be severe for the West-African region. 

The Sultan appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address the nation, assuring citizens that his administration is committed to achieving peace, security, stability, and alleviating hardships, including food security.

He also urged state governors to actively work to calm the situation, emphasizing that silence is not an option in these anxious times.

“In this challenging time, we pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders and for tranquillity to prevail in Nigeria. May Allah, the Most High, provide the quickest relief to all problems afflicting the Nigerian state. Aamin,” he concluded.

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