Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto has called on religious and traditional leaders in the country to support the incoming government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said this is necessary to stabilise the country.
Tinubu will be sworn in on May 29 to succeed incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
The respected traditional ruler and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, stde this in Abuja on Wednesday at the ongoing round-table engagement organisec by the National Population Commission, NPC.
He said the role of traditional and religious leaders in the country is to help the people and advise political leaders on the way to move e the country forward.
Speaking on the transition of power from Buhari to Tinubu, the Sultan said this is inevitable despite calls by some people for the inuaguration to be shifted to enable the election tribunal decide whether Tinubu actually won the election.
““There must be a change. In the next few days or few weeks there will be a new government. What can we contribute to that government to stabilise? What can we do besides prayers? We believe in God that gives and takes. So, May 29 is coming and after that, so what? What do we do to help the government stabilise and move the country forward? he said.
“Let us continue to work as one big family with different mothers and fathers. As religious leaders there must be equity and justice in whatever is being done. The politicians are there. They have not more than eight years, but these traditional and religious leaders are there permanently.
“That is why you see politicians and candidates coming to seek advice and prayers. Most of the politicians wanting to be Senate President, Speaker and other political office at the next assembly are going to traditional and religious leaders for prayers saying they are the best candidate.
“These two institutions are the most prominent and the most productive institutions that anybody who wants to help this country must hold these two together. Our political leaders must be the same both with us and without them we cannot do anything.
“Some people have a huge amount of money and yet they cannot help the less-privileged in the society,” the Sultan said.
