The President-General Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has challenged the federal government to put more effort in tackling myriads of problems affecting the common man in Nigeria, including increase in prices of food items, fuel and electricity tariff hike; in order to arrest insecurity in the country as “a hungry man is an angry man”.
Abubakar stated this Thursday in Abuja during the 4th quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter religious Council (NIREC), with the theme “Questing for peace in the challenge of insecurity and COVID-19”.
Dignitaries at the event include Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello (represented by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola), among others.
Addressing participants at the event, Abubakar said that the myriad of problems bedevilling the country are not insurmountable and tasked the government to muster more political will in tackling insecurity in different parts of Nigeria.
He said: “There are several problems affecting Nigeria, but all hope is not lost, because identifying a problem will lead to finding a solution. Therefore, we need to sit down and discuss. What we lack is not finding solutions to problems, but implementing recommendations. We like cutting corners. Outsiders cannot help us in solving our problems as they only come to take what we have.
“Government should find a way to address the issue of increase in food prices, electricity tariff hike and increase in fuel prices. Things are no longer affordable for the common man and a hungry man is an angry man. A good example is the increase in the price of onions. It is our duty as religious leaders to speak truth to power and find solutions to issues.
“The security situation in the North is also worsening, especially in Sokoto. Hundreds of people are being kidnapped and killed on a daily basis in Sokoto, which sometimes go unreported in the media. If we don’t find a solution now, we may wake up to more problems. Religious leaders should also be involved in the dialogue between ASUU and FG, because ASUU members attend churches and go to mosques to listen to religious leaders and will certainly obey us to call off the strike in order for our children to go back to school.”
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, said the only way to foster development in Nigeria was for Christians and Muslims to come together to ensure peaceful coexistence by refusing to be used to propagate hate speeches, violence, ethnic diversity, among others.
He said: “In the course of protests and riots in Nigeria, let it be clear that NSCIA did not send any Muslim to attack any Church and CAN did not send any Christian to attack any mosque. NIREC insists that humanity comes before ethnicity and religion. We must respect the fact that the human person is sacred.
“Dialogue is a sure way to peace. It is not a tribunal. It calls for mutual understanding such that dialogue becomes an antidote for fear and fury. The wisdom of a sage is measured with his or her level of comportment in a situation that could provoke rage, anger, tension, hate and conflict. Let us make NIREC a divine opportunity to learn patience and communication skills. Peace is not cheap. The prize is the sacred contents of human character.
“A gentle person is only a hero depending on the way and manner he reacts to conflicts. Because NIREC members struggle to give peace to humanity and our dear nation, we must continue to transform hate to love. We must be ready and willing to transform political, religious and ethnic differences to peaceful coexistence. We must be ready to pay the noble price and heroic offering for the peace we need. We must surrender our ego for that which our quest demands in the challenges of insecurity and COVID 19.”
