Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, on Wednesday said Muslims in Nigeria have no plans to eradicate Christianity in the country.
The Sultan, who spoke at a dialogue organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja, said claims of an Islamisation agenda were false and harmful to national cohesion.
“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christianity from Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.
“The Muslims in Nigeria are not planning anything like dismissing the population of Christians in Nigeria.
“As Allah had decided to bring us together, he knows why he brought us together.
“We believe we must live together in an environment of peace, stability, respect, and understanding of one another.
“Of course, when you have a problem in Benue or Plateau, for example, the majority might be Christians because of the area. If you have a problem in Sokoto, Maiduguri or somewhere else, the majority will be Muslims.”
The Sultan cautioned against linking criminality to religion, saying such narratives distort reality and worsen divisions.
He condemned extremists who justify violence in the name of religion.
“Stop saying they are Islamic terrorists. Terrorists and bandits are criminals, not Muslim criminals. There are more Muslims killed in all this madness called banditry or terrorism,” he added.
“You build yourself up, go somewhere, blow yourself up and say ‘Allahu Akbar!’ Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. Don’t think you are going to heaven. You are going to hell for taking the lives of innocent people.”
Speaking on the importance of dialogue and national unity despite the country’s challenges, he said Nigerians must remain committed to peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and continuous engagement.
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