THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa‘ad Abubakar, as cerebral, uncommon and totally detribalised.
MURIC, in a statement by Professor Ishaq Akintola in its goodwill message to Sultan on his 64th birthday said: “Sultan Abubakar is a cerebral, dynamic, uncommon and totally detribalised leader.
The group also applauded the manner he has closed the gap between the adherents of Christianity and Islam.
Akintola said: “He accommodates all regardless of ethnicity or creed. He thinks more of the whole country than of Sokoto Sultanate. Instead of leading a sedentary existence or exhibiting armchair leadership, the Sultan has been highly mobile.
“From Enugu to Nguru, from Oshogbo to Kaura-Namoda, the Sultan has left his foot print on the Nigerian architectural discuss. Consequently, he has enjoyed nation-wide love and confidence among all which no Sultan before him ever enjoyed.
Ishaq Akintola, Director, MURIC
“More fascinating is the manner he has closed the gap between the adherents of Christianity and Islam. His level of religious tolerance is nulli secundus.
“His cool-headedness in the face of provocation is legend. Sultan Abubakar’s sense of humour is numero uno. He can collect candy from a hungry lion. Yet behind the calm façade is a tactician and a fearless strategist primus inter pareil.
Noting that Nigerian Muslims have gained a lot from his leadership and the religion of Islam has made tremendous progress under him, Akintola therefore charge Nigerian Muslims to remain loyal to the central leadership and to shun all irredentist elements and ethnic jingoists with their misleading ideology of North-South dichotomy and a non-existent inferiority cum superiority complex.
“Those who tell you that Northern Muslims despise you only wish to divide us. Their intention is to weaken Islamdom. Stop listening to them,” he said.
