Why Nigerians don’t trust their leaders -Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has said Nigerian leaders would earn the trust of the public if they are accountable.

Speaking at the 5th national convention of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) on the theme, ‘Public Trust and Accountability’ in Lagos, Sultan tasked leaders at all levels to embrace accountability.

Represented by a member of NSCIA and Wazirin of Katsina, Prof. Sanni Abubakar Lugga, the Sultan who chaired the two-day event which ended yesterday, said Nigeria would have been much better if the leaders were accountable, as accountability in leadership encompasses justice, fairness, trust and equity.

The Sultan decried the controversy over hijab, reiterating that hijab, ‘which connotes decent dressing,’ is encouraged in Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

“His eminence wonders while hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is a dressing for every woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public,” Lugga said.

The Executive Chairman of MPAC, Mr. Kamor Disu said it is high time government criminalized the harassment of female Muslims who choose to adorn hijab.

He said the centre was concerned about galvanizing discussion on the imperative of accountability and public trust to encourage public officials to be accountable.