Arrest hate preachers -Sultan tells FG

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, Wednesday, called for arrest and prosecution of people who preach hate messages in Nigeria.

Abubakar such preachers have brought friction between Christians and Muslims in the country.

According to the Sultan, while all religions pray for peace, there was need for both to report preachers of hate to the security agencies for proper investigation, adding that no external people can bring peace to the country.

Sultan made the call at the opening ceremony of a 2-Day event organised by the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), a Vienna, Austria based inter-governmental organisation that promotes dialogue to build peace in conflict areas.

The programme, supported by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with the Inter faith Mediation Centre (IMC), brought together 100 key actors from diverse Nigerian communities, both Christians and Muslims, to find common ground to build and support a platform for inter religious dialogue in Nigeria.

“There is friction between christians and muslims, which is caused by preachers of hate. While we pray for peace and dialogue, preachers of hate must be reported to the security agencies.”

“I will not hesitate to add here that no outsider can bring peace to us. The outsiders can only help us. We must work hard for peace and live in peace,” the Sultan said.

“All of us believe in dialogue. That is why we are here. Some of us are outside Abuja and we have to travel in such a distance to this place. This shows what we want.”

“Some people call for violence, killings, which are contrary to our holy books. We are not here to teach ourselves the holy books but to use them appropriately.”

“How do we engage with people that profess Christianity and Islam but preach hate? We must support the security agencies to deal with them. If we want to resolved issues, we must tell ourselves the truth. Those who don’t want peace, we must collaborate with authorities to deal with them,” the Sultan said.

He said because of insecurity, people from some parts of Kaduna did not come out to celebrate Christmas as a result of curfew.

“More than 80 per cent of the people that were kept in-doors know nothing about the problem. When you keep quit, it means you support what other individuals are doing and the masses will suffer.”

“I have not lost hope in this country. I have never lost hope in my relationship with Christians. If you did something wrong, I will call you and advise you. We must continue to show love as our religions ordered us,” the Sultan said.

While speaking on the need for the group to implement all the recommendations of the programme, Sultan Sa’ad said: “The problem is not coming to seat down here. We must go out and implement it them.”

He said by February, the National Inter religious Council (NIREC) will meet and talk on prevailing issues in Nigeria.

“Let’s be careful on what we say to our followers. When you encourage people to take up arms, you should be called to order,” Sultan added.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, Dr. Osupo Ayokunle, who was represented by Bishop Steven Adegbite, said there was no better time for Nigerians to unite than now.

He said there is no religion that encourages people to kill and called on Nigerians leaders to come together and design a road map.

“We have to be in Kaduna and Adamawa states to see what we can do to help the people that have been displace,” he said.

The CAN leader called on Nigerians to be their brothers’ keeper, adding that “Only God give and take away life.”