The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said Muslims in Nigeria have no agenda to wipe out Christianity in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday at a dialogue organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja, the Sultan described claims of an Islamisation plot as false and dangerous to national unity.
“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christianity from Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.
“The Muslims in Nigeria are not planning anything like dismissing the population of Christians in Nigeria.
“As Allah had decided to bring us together, he knows why he brought us together.”
The Sultan stressed the need for Nigerians to coexist peacefully with mutual respect and understanding despite religious differences.
“We believe we must live together in an environment of peace, stability, respect, and understanding of one another,” he added.
He also warned against associating criminal acts with religion, saying terrorists and bandits should not be labelled based on faith.
“Stop saying they are Islamic terrorists. Terrorists and bandits are criminals, not Muslim criminals. There are more Muslims killed in all this madness called banditry or terrorism,” he said.
The Sultan condemned extremists who commit violence while invoking religion.
“You build yourself up, go somewhere, blow yourself up and say ‘Allahu Akbar!’ Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. Don’t think you are going to heaven. You are going to hell for taking the lives of innocent people.”
He further called for continuous dialogue, peaceful coexistence and national unity amid the country’s challenges.