Disrespect to Sultan direct affront on Muslims — NSCIA

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has cautioned political leaders to desist from disrespecting traditional institutions and accord their holders the respect they deserve.

The council said such respect was necessary to ensure the protection of our cultural and religious heritage for sustainable peace and national development.

The organisation gave the charge in the wake of an alleged plot by the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to reduce the power of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the emirship tussle in Kano State.

The alarm, which was raised by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), got the attention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who at a North-West Security Forum, warned that the Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), represented an idea that must be jealously guarded and projected for the nation’s growth.

The Sokoto State government, however, flayed MURIC for what it described as an alarm and also advised Shettima to always cross-check his facts before commenting on sensitive national matters.

A few days later, the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill scaled first and second readings in the state House of Assembly.

But in a communique at the end of NSCIA’s ninth Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC) meeting held in Abuja and signed by Prof Is-haq Oloyede, the Secretary-General of NSCIA and EGPC, the Council stated: “The NSCIA is strongly advising government and political leaders at all levels to continue to accord the traditional institution and its holders the due respect that they deserve, especially where such is combined with Islamic leadership.

“This is in order to ensure the protection of our cultural and religious heritage for sustainable peace and national development. The Muslim ummah in Nigeria, long before independence, unanimously resolved to entrust its leadership to an established Islamic institution that Muslims all over the country believe would always command the desired respect and attract the highest regards of all and sundry.

“It, therefore, behoves the custodians of such an institution to also reciprocate by acting in a manner that shows, both in words and deed, respect for Islam, its institution, and the feelings of the generality of the ummah. Any iota of disrespect to the institution is a direct affront on the faith and its adherents.”

The EGPC also commended the effort of the federal government thus far, especially in alleviating poverty and food shortage in the country, and urged the government at all levels to address the high cost of living occasioned by increased costs of food and energy.