The Sultan of Sokoto and the President-General of the Supreme for Islamic Affairs Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has said Nigerians can talk and look at where the country derailed with the view to making amendments but the option of breakup should be ruled out.
The Sultan, who spoke at the Nigerian Defence Academy Alumni 18 Regular Course Re-union in Abuja at the weekend, also said Nigerians shouldn’t break the bone of relationship that bound them together because of petty issues.
“In the military, we lived together in peace. Religion, ethnicity or tribe didn’t divide us. The unity of this great country isn’t in doubt. Nigerians should learn from the officers and men of the armed forces. Amongst us, there is discrimination, no hatred and regard ourselves as one”, the sultan who is also the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Muslims said.
He urged Nigerians to share love and eschew hatred, adding that if love is shared crises and divisions will be reduced.
“Peace is very important and we need peace if we must develop as a nation. Let us continue the peace, let’s tell our people to love one another. We need peace now that before, if we must develop”, he said.
On the military operation in the south-east, Sultan said the military had done well and the people in region now “thanking the military for the intervention.”
He said: “ I came from Enugu this morning where I went to give a lecture at University of Nigeria Nsukka. My presence there made a great impact. I told them Islam has nothing to do with killing innocent souls. I told them whoever kills innocent souls, claiming to do that for God, will enter hell. You can’t take an innocent soul and expect to go to heaven.
“… But let me also say that the south-east people are commending the military over the intervention they made few weeks back. We should celebrate the military not castigating them. The military is free to maintain peace anywhere in the country.”
‘Troops now better armed than before’
Earlier in his remarks, the former Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Ihejirika said the current service chiefs have been doing well on keeping the country together.
He said the troops are now better armed than before and they are now doing well in keeping peace across the country.
He also the south-east politicians and people appreciated what the military did to suppress the IPOB insurgency.
The President of the Alumni, Air Commodore Femi Oguntuyi said the retirement age of military officers should be put around 60 to65 years.
