The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, has dismissed fears of a religious agenda in Nigeria, saying Muslims are not planning to wipe out Christians.
CityNews reports that the Sultan spoke on Wednesday at the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by religious and government leaders, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
The Sultan, who co-chairs NIREC, said many violent incidents described as religious conflicts were being misunderstood, thereby deepening suspicion and mistrust among Nigerians.
He said, “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.
“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christians from Nigeria. No, it is not possible.”
He urged Nigerians to promote stability, respect and better understanding between Christians and Muslims.
The Sultan warned against attaching religion to criminal acts, saying insecurity should not be framed as a religious issue.
He said, “Let us get the narrative right, it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it. Let us call them what they are, criminals, not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits. Even if someone claims to be Muslim, what they do goes against Islam.”
He also linked some religious tensions to ignorance and warned against false claims of religious authority.
“The fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important,” he said.
Sultan Seeks Dialogue, Trust
The Sultan said dialogue remained the only workable path to resolving misunderstandings.
He said, “In NIREC, we believe in dialogue. No matter how bad things are, we believe in dialogue. When talking, you need to understand one another, not just tolerate.
“If you do not believe me, what else can you do? You cannot open my heart to see what is inside. We must trust one another.”
On those who perpetrate violence in the name of religion, he said, “Somebody can go to the market, blows his or herself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives.”
CAN President Calls For Religious Literacy
In his remarks, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, called for stronger religious literacy and understanding among Nigerians.
He warned against reducing religion to stereotypes.
Okoh said, “Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the beliefs and practices of others.”
He noted that many tensions in the country were often wrongly framed as religious.
“Across various parts of our nation, we continue to witness tensions that are sometimes framed along religious lines, even when their root causes may be social, economic, or political,” he said.
The CAN president said NIREC had shown that cooperation across faith lines was possible.
“Through NIREC, we have demonstrated that despite our religious differences, we share common values of peace, justice, dignity of human life, and the well-being of our nation,” he added.
Akume Links Knowledge To Peace
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said understanding among religious groups was vital to national stability.
He said, “Where there is ignorance, suspicion can take root. Where there is misunderstanding, conflict can arise. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust can flourish.”
Akume urged schools, universities and community institutions to promote accurate teaching about religions and worldviews.
He said, “Education plays a crucial role… Schools, universities, and community institutions must prioritise inclusive and accurate teaching about religions and worldviews. We must challenge our assumptions and resist narratives that seek to divide us.”
On insecurity affecting education, Akume added, “We must do everything as a government to ensure that the terrorists who kidnap children who are willing to study must come to an end.”
