Peaceful coexistence among religious groups panacea for sustantable devepment

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has identified peaceful coexistence as an essential ingredient that drives sustainable development.

Abubakar made this known at the General Assembly/Executive National Council meeting of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Benin on Saturday.

He advocated peaceful coexistence among the various religious bodies in the country, saying that it was necessary to foster sustainable development in the country.
“Nigeria is a multi-religious state. We must allow the various religions to go on. We must not trample on each other’s rights.

“People must be allowed to go anywhere in the country to do what they want to do freely, whether they are Muslims, Christians, Yoruba, Igbo or Fulani,” he said.

On challenges confronting Muslims in the country, the monarch said, ‘’we want to be treated equally, we are not asking for special treatment.

“Issues of hijab and other issues peculiar to Islam is our right and our demands must be given to us.”

Abubakar decried the attribution of negative vices to Islamic religion, and pointed out
that there were bad and good people in any society.

“Anything bad is attributed to the Muslims, this is wrong. There are bad and good people in any society, but bad people should be picked out and taught what is right.

“People do many terrible things elsewhere, but they are not termed terrorists,” we are peaceful people and must contribute to the peace in the country.