Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chair of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday issued a stern warning to religious leaders, declaring that the Council risks “slipping into irrelevance” if sincerity and accountability are not restored to interfaith engagements.
The remarks came during the Second Tri-Annual Meeting of NIREC in Abuja, where major Christian and Muslim leaders confronted the worsening state of insecurity and public distrust in Nigeria.
Speaking with unusual bluntness, the Sultan said NIREC had drifted from the spirit of unity that defined its early years.
He lamented that religious leaders often speak peace within NIREC sessions but deliver divisive messages once they leave the room. “We sit here and say good things to one another… but when we go outside, we speak negatively. Are we really honest with ourselves?” he queried.
The monarch stressed that NIREC must decide whether to continue “in name only” or undertake a serious self-audit to restore credibility. He praised Cardinal John Onaiyekan for maintaining moral consistency and recalled their years of genuine collaboration.
The Sultan further insisted that true peace cannot be forced. He said, “As a military man, I know that no matter the force applied, we end up returning to dialogue. If peace can be achieved without fighting, why fight?”
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on his part, warned that Nigeria has entered a frightening period of mass abductions, banditry and extremist attacks. According to him, communities were being deserted while families across the country mourn loved ones lost to daily killings. “The loss of innocent lives is heartbreaking. Citizens are anxious about their safety”, he stated.
Okoh urged President Bola Tinubu to intensify security efforts and hold perpetrators – and their sponsors – accountable. He emphasized that faith bodies remain crucial for peacebuilding due to their deep community influence.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, rejected what he called misleading international narratives painting Nigeria as a nation undergoing religious genocide.
He stated that both Christians and Muslims have suffered devastating attacks, insisting that Nigeria’s crisis is not driven by faith differences. Both Christians and Muslims have been victims of mass killings, Akume stressed.
He announced a new U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group on Security, which will include inputs from religious leaders.
