Don’t sponsor pilgrims with stolen funds, Sultan tells politicians

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has cautioned politicians and public office holders against sponsoring pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem using stolen public funds. The Sultan delivered this message at the opening ceremony of a stakeholders' meeting organized by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja.

He stressed that religious leaders must work closely with anti-corruption agencies to combat systemic corruption. The Sultan emphasized that God does not appreciate corruption, and using stolen funds for pilgrimages would not be accepted by God. He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pursue corrupt individuals, irrespective of their political or religious backgrounds, without any hindrance.

The Sultan also highlighted the importance of national unity and praised NIREC for facilitating dialogue between Christians and Muslims. He urged religious leaders to foster genuine mutual understanding rather than mere tolerance. The Sultan cautioned religious leaders to be mindful of their words during election periods and to pray for national leaders instead of inciting division through their sermons.

He also called on clerics to avoid using religious platforms to attack public officers. The Sultan paid tribute to the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua, for his transformative leadership. Additionally, he introduced the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project, a collaboration between the EFCC and Nigeria's religious leadership to address moral corruption.