Sultan speaks against using churches, mosques as campaign platforms, sponsoring pilgrims with stolen money

The Sultan of Sokoto, President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and co-chair of the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC), His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has advised religious leaders to watch their utterances and desist from using their churches and mosques as campaign platforms for politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We’re into campaign for 2027 elections, so our religious leaders must be wary of what they say at the churches or mosques or any religious gathering. You cannot choose a leader by shouting in the church or in the mosque about his good behaviour or his good things or his bad things or his bad behaviour or things like that. You cannot.

“Whoever is going to be the leader, God has already chosen that person. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Whatever God says must happen, you cannot, your prayers will only lead to the God’s chosen candidate,” said the Sultan at the second quarterly meeting of NIREC Wednesday in Abuja.

At the  meeting, which had as its theme: “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria”, the Sultan also urged Nigerians to desist from sponsoring pilgrims to Mecca and Jerusalem with stolen money, saying God will never bless them for indulging in corruption or using stolen money to do good.

He said: “As religious leaders, we must fight corruption. Why? Because God Almighty doesn’t like corruption, he doesn’t love corruption. You cannot steal money and then send people to Jerusalem and Mecca with corrupt money, and then you think God will accept your deeds. No!

“God is not corrupt, so He doesn’t like corruption. So you cannot use corrupt money to send people to Jerusalem or to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or for any other thing. So let’s see how we can come together and help the EFCC Chairman to really fight this corruption.

“And whoever is involved, even our brothers, our sisters, our fathers, our friends, those involved, should face the law. And law is not a respecter of anybody. Whoever does something wrong, he should face the law.

“And when he is facing the law, don’t tell me he is the Pastor of so so church, he is the Chief Imam of so so mosque. We don’t want to hear that. Let the EFCC Chairman go after that person, whoever it is, and deal with him according to the law.

“And the law is a law. And dealing with him according to the law, don’t debate. Don’t listen to politics or political leaders or do it for political leaders or political liberties.

“This is not the first time we have been talking about this. I remember so many years ago, I attended an EFCC function at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, and I talked about corruption and God’s hate of corruption. I don’t think I will have to repeat that, because words are on the map, they don’t disappear. What is written is written. Anything that is on paper is preserved forever.

“I thank all Muslims and Christians, for believing that we can sit in one place and talk to one another, drink together, drink fora, eat tuo, eat amala. That’s the important message that we should be sending out to the world. This is the only country where you have this type of gathering.

“I’ve been around the world. I’ve never seen a place where Christians and Muslims come down periodically to talk to one another on issues pertaining to the existence, the stability, the development of their country, except in Nigeria.”

The monarch said: “So it’s an issue that we should be thankful to almighty for giving us that patience to talk to one another. And I keep on telling people that I don’t want you to tolerate me because if you tolerate me, there’s nothing you can do but to tolerate me. I’m Sultan of all. But if you understand me, you can work with me; I can work with you, because we know who we are to each other.

“So understanding is more important than toleration. And I think we must continue to understand one another by coming down together for such programmes. And when we do talk, let’s talk with all honesty and sincerity.

“Whatever the problems are, let’s set them out and let’s talk of how do we resolve such problems. Not to go back to our various places and then start flying false rumours. And I believe all of us are so much endowed by God almighty to talk to one another in a very free atmosphere without any fear, without even trying to make somebody look good in the face of another person.

“Let’s continue to work together. Let’s continue to trust one another. Let’s continue to support one another. Let’s believe that we cannot cheat one another. We cannot do things that are bad to one another. If we have that belief in us, Nigeria will be a much, much better place. Not only for us, but for everybody.

“The more you talk, the more you understand one another. Imams, pastors, and others come together at more religious places and talk to one another. NIREC is not just a platform. It’s a very strong body that can do a lot of things.”

CAN President

Also speaking, President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and NIREC’s co-chair, His Eminence Archbishop (Dr.) Daniel C. Okoh, said churches, mosques and religious institutions possess enormous moral and social influence.

He said religious leaders can use the influence to build bridges rather than walls, promote reconciliation rather than suspicion, and encourage followers to pursue the common good rather than narrow sectional interests.

He said: “I deeply appreciate the leadership of NIREC for choosing the theme, “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.” It is both timely and profound because it takes our interfaith conversation beyond merely managing religious differences to asking a more fundamental question: How can people of different faiths contribute together to the flourishing of the society we share?

“The idea of Shared Sacred Flourishing does not suggest that Christians and Muslims must abandon, blend or compromise their distinctive beliefs. Rather, it recognises that each faith tradition has its own understanding of the Sacred and its own vision of human and societal flourishing. What we can share is a commitment to allowing the values that flow from our respective encounters with the Sacred—love, compassion, mercy, justice, forgiveness, service and concern for others—to contribute to the common good.

“In this sense, shared flourishing is relational. None of us truly flourishes in isolation. Our wellbeing is connected to the wellbeing of our neighbour, our community and our nation. We flourish when the dignity of others is protected, when the vulnerable are cared for, when justice is upheld, when communities live in peace and when institutions serve the common good. This understanding of flourishing is consistent with the call for religious communities to move from dialogue to practical cooperation for the wellbeing of society.

“As religious leaders, therefore, we must ask ourselves: What kind of Nigeria are we helping to create through our words, our actions and our influence? Our churches, mosques and religious institutions possess enormous moral and social influence. We can use that influence to build bridges rather than walls, promote reconciliation rather than suspicion, and encourage our followers to pursue the common good rather than narrow sectional interests.”

“As Christians, we are reminded of the biblical injunction: “Seek the peace of the city… for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” (Jeremiah 29:7). This reminds us that our own wellbeing is inseparably connected to the wellbeing of the society in which God has placed us.

“As we deliberate on this important theme, may NIREC continue to provide a platform where our differences are respected, our shared values are strengthened and our common responsibilities are translated into action.

“Let us work together towards a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims do not merely tolerate one another, but cooperate for the common good; where religious diversity becomes a source of strength rather than division; and where every Nigerian can experience peace, dignity, justice and the opportunity to flourish

“The Christian Association of Nigeria remains committed to constructive engagement with NIREC and with our Muslim brothers and sisters. We believe that our shared commitment to peace, human dignity, justice and national development provides a strong foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria,” Okoh said.

EFCC

In his paper presentation, the Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, urged religious leaders not to use their offices to perpetuate corruption, but to campaign against corruption.

He said: “We are a deeply religious people. Our churches and mosques are full. Prayer remains an important feature of our national life. Religious language is woven into our everyday conversations. Yet, we must have the courage to ask ourselves: has the depth of our religious profession been sufficiently reflected in the integrity of our public and economic life? That question brings the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission directly into this conversation.

“When money meant for a hospital is stolen, the offence may be recorded as corruption, but its consequence may be a patient who cannot receive treatment. When education funds are diverted, the financial crime becomes a child without opportunity. When resources intended for roads are misappropriated, corruption becomes an abandoned project, lost productivity and sometimes lost lives.

“As religious leaders, your help shape conscience before the crime occurs. Religious institutions have extraordinary responsibility in Nigeria’s anti-corruption struggle. The EFCC can investigate a person’s conduct. Faith communities can influence that person’s character. We can prosecute fraud. Religious teaching can cultivate honesty. We can confiscate illicit wealth. Churches and mosques can challenge the values that make society worship wealth without questioning its source.”