The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, has lamented the economic hardship in the country, saying Nigerians were frustrated and hungry.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Northern Traditional Rulers Council’s (NTRC) 6th executive committee meeting in Kaduna state, he identified poverty and insecurity as the main causes of unrest in the country’s north.
“To make matters worse, we are faced with rising levels of poverty of most of our people; a lack of normal sources of livelihood for the common man to have even a good meal a day,” he said.
“But I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay.
“I have said it so many times and at so many fora that, things are not okay in Nigeria and of course, things are not okay in the north.
“To me, this government is a continuation of the former government; it is the same party.
“So, what is the problem? I think that is one of the reasons we are here to talk to ourselves.”
The sultan said traditional rulers owed it a duty to Nigerians, who believed in the traditional institution, to bring solutions to the various problems facing the country.
“Education is important, so whatever issue you want to bring here, you must talk about education, you must talk about health issues and of the two monsters that have been harassing all of us here that is insecurity and poverty,” he said.
“And let’s not take it for granted; people are quiet, they are quiet for a reason because people have been talking to them.
‘We have been talking to them, we have been trying to tell them things will be okay and they keep on believing.
“I pray to Almighty Allah that they will not one day wake up and say we no longer believe in you because that would be the biggest problem because we can’t quieten these people as traditional, spiritual leaders and diplomats forever.
“We have reached that level, people are very agitated, people are hungry, they are angry, but they still believe there are people who can talk to them, they believe in some of their governors, some other traditional rulers, and some of their religious leaders
“Fortunately, some of us double as traditional and religious leaders.
“So, we have this onerous task of reaching out to everybody, calming them down, and assuring them things will be okay, and they should continue to pray and pray and still do something good because prayer without work will not bring anything.”
Abubakar also expressed concern about the millions of unemployed youths, noting that it posed a danger to the country.
“We must find jobs for our teeming youths that are sitting idle and I have said it so many times, we sit on a keg of gunpowder, having teeming youths millions of them, without jobs, without food, we are looking for trouble,” he added.
He added that the council was ready to work with the governors.
“And if the governors too want to have peace and stability in their states, they must work with the traditional leaders,” he said.