The sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for elected officials and eschew criticising the people in power.
He made this plea on Monday during the regional conference on climate change-induced conflicts in northern Nigeria, hosted by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in partnership with International Alert.
Abubakar noted that “nothing is permanent”, and implored Nigerians to keep praying for their leaders and the country.
The sultan also cautioned religious leaders against deceiving their followers for personal benefits.
“90 percent of people who listen to religious leaders in mosques and churches believe in them because they view them as saviours. Only God can save any human being,” he said.
“Do your best in worshipping Allah (God) and leave the rest to Him, not to anybody. Don’t follow those who will lead you astray.
“So many things have been happening in this country, and we believe we must return to Allah. Intensify prayers for our country in all mosques. I won’t mention churches because the CAN President is here, and I believe he will say the same thing.
“A lot of people say we have never had it so bad, but no matter how difficult it is, ease will come. We believe nothing lasts forever. Nothing bad and nothing good lasts forever.
“Let us intensify prayers in our congregations and encourage our followers to pray for our leaders. We will not castigate them; we will allow Almighty Allah to deal with them as He wishes, and He will.
“As one of the speakers said, Allah will ask each of us what we did with the leadership He gave us on earth. On that day, you will be on your own; nobody will be there for you. No deputy governor will be there for the governor, and no special adviser or SSG will be there.
“You are on your own, as I always say. All of us will be on our own. Let us fear Allah in whatever we do and pray for our country. We are blessed; go around to other countries and see.
“We have challenges, yes, but nothing lasts forever. With hard work and commitment, we can become a better country.”
The revered monarch also emphasized the several challenges facing the north, including limited knowledge of climate change, poverty, and insecurity.
“The North faces many issues and obstacles—not just limited knowledge of climate change but also poverty and insecurity in the north, once known for peace and progress,” he said.
“Our gathering here is an opportunity to unite as a family in the North. Many are attempting to divide us through misunderstandings and misrepresentations. They are aware that the North’s strength is significant, not just in Nigeria but globally.
“If we stand together, we can confront any obstacle. United, we can build a more prosperous and stronger community. That’s why many untrue negative statements are spread on certain matters, aiming only to divide us.”
Whilst speaking at the conference, Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), depicted the climate change crisis in the north as a humanitarian emergency that demands urgent action.
Okoh also highlighted the need for public education on climate change effects and environmental responsibility, encouraging leaders to communicate truthfully within their communities.
The CAN president also said that Nigeria can “only thrive by praying and seeking divine guidance.”