The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible General Elections in 2019.
He made the call on Friday at opening of a two-day 29th National Conference of the Muslim Sisters Organisation (MSO) holding at the Abuja National Mosque, with the theme “Moulding the next generation: Tasks before the Muslim Ummah”.
Abubakar was represented by the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa.
“Let me justifiably appeal to government on 2019 election to demonstrate moral determination to conduct a credible, free and fair elections, to fulfill the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 21 Section 3,: he said.
The Sultan quoted the section as: “The will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government.
“The will shall be expressed in periodic and general elections which shall be made by universal equal suffrage through secret vote or free voting procedure.”
He, therefore, urged Muslim sisters to exercise their democratic franchise and support religious institutions in the realisation of credible elections in the country.
The monarch also urged religious leaders in Africa to preach good conduct and create ‘high voltage’ of spiritual atmosphere especially by encouraging strict observance of the practice of Prophet Muhammad.
Earlier, the National Amira (President), of the organisation, Hajiya Amina Musa Sakaba, advised politicians to play according to the rules of the game as preparations for the 2019 General Elections gather momentum.
According to her, politicians should see politics as a means of serving humanity and not an economic enterprise, and that leadership was about rendering selfless service to humanity.
While enjoining the youth to shun all forms of violence and channel their energy to more productive ventures that would add value to their lives and the society, she also urged electorate to make the proper use of the ballot box to install God-fearing leaders that would enhance the living conditions of the ordinary citizens in country.
She, however, admonished Muslim women to take their responsibility of proper upbringing of the coming generation of the society seriously.
She said that drug abuse, political thuggery, indecency, rape, kidnapping and misuse of the social media had become common among youths in the country.
Also, the Secretary-General, NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged Muslims women to contribute meaningfully to the propagation of Islam and national development.
