Protests: Sultan appeals for calm, prayers, cautions Nigerians

The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has once again appealed to protest organisers and their covert and overt supporters to sheath their swords and urgently come to the table for dialogue.

The Sultan, in a statement signed by the Secretary General, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Khalid Aliyu, on Thursday, warned that an escalation of the violent protest may cause a catastrophe in the West African sub-region.

He said “We genuinely feared escalation to an uncontrollable scenario and the reports are tilting towards that.

“Therefore, we in the name of Allah, the Most High call for an end to the snowballing rampaging, in the name of protest.

“We should all understand that there must be a stable country called Nigeria, before we can proudly call ourselves Nigerians,” the sultan said, urging for calm.

He called on Muslim clerics to explore Friday Jumm’at prayer to calm nerves and pray for sustainable peace and restrain in the ongoing protest.

The Sultan said the call has become imperative, bearing in mind that the protest is getting out of hand and the consequence may be too heavy on the West-African sub-region.

He further called on all Majaalis (knowledge-seeking gatherings), Halqas (study circles), Madaaris, and Makarantun Allo (Islamic schools), as well as the leadership of all Muslim organisations and/or societies in Nigeria to commence special prayers in calamitous situations and trying times (Qunootun-Nawazil), and seek Allah’s compassion for Nigeria.

“A clarion call is therefore made to all leaders and the Nigerian citizens to fear Allah, for it is through such a spiritual medium that Allah’s intervention descends with full assurance from Him, the Ever Merciful.

“Muslims are also urged to be introspective and should embrace more Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), through glorification of Allah, Istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) and ceaseless Du’a (prayers and invocations), for ease and relief in these trying moments,” he added.