Sultan Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged the Organised Labour in Nigeria to reconsider their planned strike action scheduled to commence on Monday, June 3, 2024.

In a statement released by his media team on Sunday night, the Sultan appealed to the labour leaders to consider the potential hardships their action may cause Nigerians.

“The Labour leaders should consider the overbearing effects of the strike action they plan to embark upon on the wellbeing of the same Nigerians, whose interest they are fighting to protect, and therefore shelve the industrial action,” he said.

The Sultan emphasized the importance of negotiation, encouraging the labour leaders to continue engaging with the government.

“We appeal to Labour not to take the nation through another leg of hardship… They should try to listen to the government while the government should listen to them and both parties arrive at a conclusion that will be beneficial to all Nigerians, with the working class inclusive,” he said.

Drawing from his personal experience in past negotiations between labour and government, the Sultan acknowledged the labour leaders’ efforts to advocate for better welfare for their fellow workers.

However, he cautioned them to consider the potential consequences of their actions and to prioritize compassion.

“You are doing what is right for your class of fellow workers, but you should do it within the ambit of compassion and see strike always as the last option,” he said.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned those calling for the arrest of Dr Zakir Naik to mind their business. The organisation insists that the Islamic preacher is exercising his Allah-given fundamental human right of freedom of movement under international law. MURIC further warned that anybody found embarrassing to the Sultan’s guest would face the wrath of Nigerian Muslims. 

The warning was handed down on Sunday, 5th November 2023, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

The full statement reads:

“A campaign of calumny and religious hatred has been unleashed on an international Islamic figure, Dr Zakir Naik, who is currently in Nigeria. Dr Zakir Naik is in the country on the invitation of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

“The campaign is being sponsored by Christians who are jittery. They are aware of the visitor’s oratory, intellectual prowess and amazing ability to convince his audience with indubitable facts. We remind these overzealous interlopers that Dr Zakir Naik is exercising his Allah-given fundamental human right of freedom of movement. 

“Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations guarantees the right to freedom of movement around the globe without interference. It says, ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

“Those behind this shameful exercise are meddlesome interlopers and Muslim haters disguising themselves as public commentators. They are motivated by hate, ignorance and gymnastic religiosity. 

“For the avoidance of doubt, we warn that anybody found embarrassing an official guest of His Eminence the Sultan and head of more than 150 million Nigerian Muslims will face the wrath of Muslims in this country.

“Why are our Christian neighbours so intolerant? How many times have Muslims raised objections when Christians invite foreign preachers? Several Christian preachers have toured this country without any Muslim protesting. 

“We recall the way Louis Farrakhan, the black American Muslim leader, was disallowed from giving a lecture in Nigeria in 1986. That ugly and disgraceful incident was engineered by the same set of people. It must not happen again.

“To those who are pursuing this ignoble goal, we say, ‘Take notice that Dr Zakir Naik is not Louis Farrakhan and Nigeria of 1986 is different from Nigeria in 2023. Nigerian Muslims of today, under a dynamic and visionary leadership, can give measure for measure.’ 

“The whole world knows the Indian government for what it is when it comes to religious tolerance. The crimes of the Indian state against its Muslim population of 204 million Muslims are legendary. Muslim haters in Nigeria should allow the Indian government to convince Interpol to do its dirty work for it. 

“India has failed to involve Interpol because its allegations against Dr Zakir Naik are religiously motivated. How did the Islamic scholar travel across several countries without Interpol arresting him if, indeed, he is a wanted person? Let the Indian government convince Interpol first.

“As far as we are concerned, Dr Zakir Naik has not broken any known law of Nigeria. He is, therefore, innocent and free to move around and deliver lectures. We remind the law enforcement agencies of their duty to ensure the safety and security of this Islamic scholar. Nothing must happen to him. It is needless to assert that any guest of the Sultan is a guest of all Nigerian Muslims.”

#LeaveDrZaikNaikAlone

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military leader of Nigeria, has been picked by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lead a mission to Niger for mediation.

He will be accompanied by Muhammadu Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, who commands great sway over the Muslim population both inside and outside of Nigeria.

Alieu Touray, the head of the ECOWAS Commission, is also a member of the group.

Patrice Talon, the president of Benin, and Mahamat Déby, the president of Chad, had previously been sent to Niger by the sub-regional bloc to meet with the coup plotters.

On Sunday, ECOWAS slapped sanctions on Niger, including a travel ban and a blockade, until President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown by the military on July 26th, was reinstated.

Meanwhile, it summoned the sub-region’s defence commanders and threatened to deploy force.

A meeting of the defence chiefs reportedly took place in Abuja. Mali, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were not present, though.

The restrictions are already in place, as Nigeria started cutting power to Niger on Wednesday.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs has confirmed that the Ramadan crescent has been sighted in different locations in Nigeria.

This announcement was made by the Islamic Council in a statement on its official Facebook page on Wednesday night.

The statement reads, “His Eminence has received positive sighting reports of the Ramadan crescent from various locations nationwide. Thursday, 23rd March, is the first day of Ramadan.”

It added that an official statement would follow afterwards.

The sighting of the crescent marks the beginning of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast for twenty-nine of thirty days before observing Eid al-Fitr.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has cautioned political actors not to drag Nigeria into anarchy. 

On Tuesday, the apex Islamic organisation gave the warning in a press statement jointly signed by the organisation’s Secretary General, Prof Salisu Shehu and the Director of Administration, Arch Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu. 

The NSCIA warned political actors to refrain from making unguarded and provocative utterances.

Part of the statement reads, “While reckless statements from inconsequential individuals can be easily ignored, this is not so of those from respected political leaders.”

“It is important that patriotic and well-meaning Nigerian leaders should support unrelenting adherence to process and procedure in the ongoing electoral process. This is because any inclination to unprocedural decision or action at this critical time is a direct call for anarchy which will not yield any positive outcome to the Nation.”

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Police in Sokoto have gunned down one protester and left many others injured as the angry youths demanded the release of two suspects connected with the killing of Deborah Samuel, who was accused of blasphemy.

The Daily Reality reported how Samuel, a Student of Shehu Shagari College of Education,  faced the wrath of death by her fellow students following her blasphemous utterances against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Friday, 13 May 2022.

The protesters took to the major streets of Sokoto state metropolis on Saturday morning, demanding the release of the two suspects arrested.

 The Daily Reality gathered that the protest was initially peaceful and was started at the Zabirah Mall roundabout.

The incident that took place around 9 am on Saturday had many youths in attendance holding placards that read “Release our Muslim Brothers,” “Muslims Are Not Terrorists”, among others.

Our reporters learned that the protesters headed to the palace of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.

However, they were blocked by a team of joint security operatives who used tear gas canisters to disperse them.

As for now, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the state has imposed a curfew to mitigate violence trying to emerge. 

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The crescent, which signifies the beginning of the month of Ramadan, has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, Haramain Sharifain confirmed in a statement on its verified Facebook page today.

“Crescent was SEEN in Saudi Arabia today. Subsequently, the month of Sha’ban completes 29 days today and tomorrow, i.e. Saturday, 2nd April 2022, will be the first day of Ramadan 1443,” the statement read.

This marks the beginning of the Muslims’ act of fasting for 29 or 30 days, not only in Saudi Arabia but across the world.

It can be recalled that even in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, has urged the Muslim faithful to come out today in search of the Ramadan crescent.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sent a condolence message to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar over the death of Alhaji Hassan Danbaba, the Magajin Garin Sokoto.

The message, which was signed by MURIC’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, reads:

“With sorrow in our hearts, we commiserate with the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on the death of the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba.

“He was the head of the kingmakers of Sokoto and grandson of the late Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello. He reportedly slumped in a hotel in Kaduna yesterday Sunday, 13th February 2022. He was there to attend a social event. He was rushed to 44 Army Resident Hospital, Kaduna where he was confirmed dead.

“He was very active in the Rice Revolution of President Muhammadu Buhari which is being championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He also played a key role in the Rice Pyramid Fair in Abuja held by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN). He was also one of the eminent Nigerians who converged on Lagos last weekend to find solutions to the challenges confronting the country ahead of the 2023 elections.

“He is expected to be buried at the Hubbaren Shehu Cemetery where members of the Sokoto royal family are usually buried. He was survived by three wives and six children. May Allah have mercy on him. May Allah also give members of the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed

The President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sultan of Sokoto, Sheikh Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Muslims all over Nigeria to watch out for the new moon of Jumada al-Thani 1443 AH on Sunday, January 02 2022.

He said in the press release:
“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Monday, January 03, 2022, which is equivalent to the 29th day of Jumada al-Awwal 1443AH, shall be the day to look out for the new moon of Jumada al-Thani 1443AH.

“Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan.” 

This statement was signed by Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto State.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the leader of Nigerian Muslim Ummah and chairman of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (III), as he marks 15 years on the throne.

The statement signed Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this, describing the Sultan as a “peacebuilder and a true embodiment of commitment to service”.

The statement also added, “Sultan Sa’ad has remained a leader who dedicated his life to the welfare of the people.”

“Greetings to His Eminence, the Sultan on his 15th year on the throne of his fathers. On behalf of my family and I, the government and the people of Nigeria, I wish you many more years in the position and working tirelessly to promote inter-religious and inter-communal harmony throughout the federation.

“It is very reassuring to have such leadership at these challenging times. My prayers are for your long and healthy life,” said the president.