The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar III, has declared Friday, October 23, as a day of special prayer for the nation.
Chairman, NSCIA Media Committee, Alhaji Femi Abbas, said the sultan made the declaration in an admonishing statement he personally addressed to all Nigerian Muslims.
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The sultan emphasized that only a peaceful environment backed up by fervent prayer could propel hope and harmony for the citizens of any country in which God is believed to be in control.
He particularly praised the imams of the various mosques across the country for not transgressing in their Friday sermons during the crisis either by maligning any group or individual personalities or by instigating any particular tribe or religious adherents against another, directly or indirectly.
He, however, requested them to dedicate their Friday sermons to the ongoing crisis in the country by calming down the strained nerves with their clement preaching for peace as well as their verbal ventilation of the national atmosphere for permanent tranquility to the benefit of all and sundry.
The sultan also commended the Nigerian Muslims generally for handling the ongoing #EndSARS mass protests with moderation, in accordance with the Islamic norm and as expected of them as Muslims.
He also implored all Nigerian Muslim congregations to heartily join their Imams in offering a special prayer on Friday for the stability of Nigeria in the present time as well as in future.
He cautioned youths against joining any evil gang of violence into which some disgruntled Nigerian adults, with hidden agenda, might cunningly lure them with a bait that can lead them to irreversible contrition.
