Sultan Urges Christians, Muslims to Stop Insults, Embrace Religious Tolerance
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Christians and Muslims across Nigeria to stop insulting one another and embrace mutual respect as a pathway to peaceful coexistence.
The Sultan made the appeal in Abuja while speaking at an international conference focused on national security and socio-economic development.
He stressed that neither Christians nor Muslims should consider themselves superior to followers of the other faith, urging Nigerians to recognise their shared humanity and respect religious differences.
According to the Sultan, God created all people and it is not the responsibility of individuals to determine who is better or more righteous than others.
He encouraged Nigerians to leave ultimate judgment to God while focusing on living peacefully with one another.
The monarch's comments come amid renewed concerns over religiously divisive rhetoric and provocative statements capable of increasing tension between Nigeria's major religious communities.
Nigeria is a religiously diverse country, with Christianity and Islam constituting the two largest faith groups. While millions of Nigerians from both communities live and work together peacefully, religious differences have occasionally been exploited to create tension and deepen social divisions.
The Sultan said such divisions should not be allowed to undermine national unity, stressing that Nigerians can coexist peacefully when they learn to respect one another despite differences in faith.
He particularly cautioned against the use of insults and derogatory language directed at people because of their religion.
According to him, religious identity should not become a reason for Nigerians to treat one another with hostility.
The call for tolerance also comes at a time when social media has made it easier for inflammatory religious comments, videos and messages to spread rapidly across the country.
Religious leaders and other stakeholders have repeatedly urged Nigerians to exercise restraint when discussing sensitive issues and avoid statements that could provoke conflict.
The Sultan's intervention therefore adds to ongoing calls for greater dialogue and understanding between Christian and Muslim communities.
He emphasised that peaceful coexistence requires Nigerians to recognise that differences in religious beliefs do not prevent them from sharing a common national identity.
Beyond religion, the Sultan's message also has implications for national security and development, as prolonged religious tension can undermine social stability, economic activity and community cooperation.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise peace and mutual understanding rather than allowing religious differences to become sources of unnecessary conflict.
The message is particularly relevant to young Nigerians, who make up a significant portion of the country's population and are among the most active users of social media platforms where religious debates frequently take place.
As Nigeria continues to address security and socio-economic challenges, the Sultan's call underscores the importance of tolerance, respect and responsible communication in building a more peaceful society.