The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, on Sunday urged Muslims across the country to champion national unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, warning against the use of ethnicity as a basis for division within the Muslim community and Nigeria at large.
He made the call during the 11th General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria, held at the M.O. Abdul Hall, University of Ibadan Central Mosque Auditorium, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The assembly had as its theme: “Insecurity in Nigeria: A Technology-Driven and Collective Approach for National Development.”
The Sultan said Nigerians must recognise their common humanity and work together for national development, stressing that ethnic, regional and religious differences should not undermine their collective responsibility to build a peaceful and prosperous country.
Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said Muslims belonged to one big family and should recognise their shared identity as members of the human family created by Almighty Allah.
“We are one big family. Ethnicity should never be a determining factor in identifying who is a Muslim and who is not.
“Almighty Allah created us as one human family and commanded us to worship Him alone and glorify His name. So, I urge you to champion national unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence,” he stated.
The monarch further emphasised the importance of placing Islam at the centre of Muslims’ lives, urging them to allow the teachings of the religion to guide their conduct, relationships and contributions to humanity.
“It must be Islam first, Islam first, Islam first, and Islam last,” he declared.
The Sultan also stressed that all human beings were equal before Allah, irrespective of their backgrounds, social status or ethnic affiliations, adding that righteousness and piety remained the true measures of a person’s worth, saying, “Before Allah, we are all equal. The best among us is the one who possesses the greatest degree of piety and righteousness.”
He, therefore, urged Muslim leaders and members of the Ummah to remain committed to the service of Islam and humanity, insisting “that ethnic and regional differences should never be used as excuses for failing to contribute to the development of the Muslim community.”
In his remarks, the group’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr AbdulRauf Babalakin, also called “for greater unity and cooperation among Muslim organisations in the South-West,” stressing “the need for a common vision to advance the interests of the Muslim community.”
Babalakin stressed that the strength of the Muslim community depended on its ability to work together, invest in education and embrace the opportunities offered by technology.
“Muslim organisations must learn to work together and pursue a common vision. Our collective strength lies in our unity, our commitment to education and our ability to respond to the challenges of our time.”
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He identified education, technological advancement and sustainable funding as critical priorities for MUSWEN, while urging Muslims to reject extremism and uphold peaceful conduct.
Earlier, the outgoing MUSWEN President, Rasaki Oladejo, said the organisation had recorded significant progress in institutional development, property investment, education, mediation and financial management during his six years in office.
Reflecting on his tenure, Oladejo said the group had made deliberate efforts to build a stronger and more financially sustainable organisation, adding that its achievements were the result of collective commitment and support from members and stakeholders.
“Our priority has been to build an institution that can stand the test of time. We have invested in our properties, strengthened our financial base and supported programmes that will improve the welfare and educational opportunities of members of the Muslim community,” he said.
He announced plans to support 12 female medical students under the Sultan Abubakar Female Medical Student Scholarship Scheme, with two beneficiaries expected from each of the six South-West states. He also disclosed plans to provide 120 bursaries in 2027.
In his acceptance address, the new MUSWEN President, Rafiu Adisa, pledged to strengthen the organisation’s contributions to education, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, economic development and the protection of the rights of Muslims.
“We want a MUSWEN that is more responsive to the needs of the people, particularly in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and the development of our youths and women. Our responsibility is to build on the achievements of the past and make the organisation more effective,” he said.
He said his administration would also promote national unity, interfaith harmony and greater participation in national affairs, while strengthening the group’s financial base and expanding its development programmes.
Adisa condemned banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence, calling for improved intelligence-sharing, accountable security agencies and stronger collaboration between security institutions and local communities.
He also advocated consideration of constitutionally grounded decentralised policing as part of efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
“Security cannot be left to government agencies alone. There must be effective cooperation between security institutions and local communities, supported by timely intelligence, accountability and a system that can respond adequately to the peculiar security needs of different areas,” he said.
Also speaking, an All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, underscored the importance of moral and religious education in addressing social challenges, particularly among young people.
“Growing up in a community where people of different religions lived together taught me the importance of tolerance and mutual respect. Our religious differences should not divide us; rather, we should learn to understand one another and live together in peace,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to strengthen moral and religious education in schools, noting that proper moral upbringing could help address social challenges and guide young people towards responsible conduct.
