The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned Muslims against compelling anyone to embrace Islam, emphasising that the religion does not permit coercion or forced conversion.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He urged Muslims to demonstrate the values of their faith through their actions and promote peaceful coexistence with people of other religious beliefs.

The Sultan spoke on Monday during the closing ceremony of activities marking his 20th anniversary on the throne and the 13th Sheikh Usmanu Bin Fodiyo Week in Sokoto.

Abubakar, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, described himself as “a soldier of Islam and a soldier of peace”, noting that much of his time as a traditional and religious leader had been devoted to resolving conflicts and restoring peace in communities.

“Before I became Sultan here, I was a soldier. I am still a soldier, a soldier of Islam and a soldier of peace, because what I spend most of my time doing is bringing peace to communities,” he said.

He also encouraged Nigerians to draw lessons from the founding principles of the Sokoto Caliphate to strengthen governance and tackle the country’s social challenges.

According to him, the caliphate was founded on sound human relationships, respect for human dignity and devotion to God. He said these principles provided society with peace, strength, purpose and direction.

The Sultan maintained that the values remained relevant despite the social, economic and political changes that had taken place over the years.

He blamed British colonial rule for introducing systems and structures that continued to serve colonial interests while hindering Africans from overcoming colonial attitudes and values.

“Indeed, more so, because what replaced the caliphate was the British colonial rule, which was exploitative and subversive, even if subterranean. The nearly 60 years of this exploitative rule have had the misfortune of installing systems and structures that not only continue to benefit the colonial enterprise but also undermine our recovery from colonial morality and mentality,” he said.

Abubakar described the Sokoto Caliphate as evidence of the capacity of African scholars to establish a society, government and economy founded on the rule of law.

He said the caliphate’s history and legacy could offer valuable lessons for Africa’s development and liberation.

The Sultan further urged Muslim scholars to promote the spirit of brotherhood taught by Prophet Muhammad and educate the public on the role of the caliphate in uniting people from different ethnic backgrounds.

Meanwhile, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal congratulated the Sultan on his 20th anniversary on the throne, describing his reign as one characterised by humility, unity, stability, religious tolerance and national cohesion.

Lawal said the Sultan’s counsel and interventions had continued to play an important role in addressing Nigeria’s economic, social and security challenges.

He called on Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders and youth organisations to encourage peaceful coexistence, discourage extremism and promote values such as honesty, compassion and respect for human life.

The governor also stressed that achieving lasting peace required more than security operations, noting the importance of quality education, economic opportunities, sound moral values and active community participation.

Similarly, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, represented by his deputy, Idris Gobir, commended the Sultan for his contributions to religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and national development.

Aliyu said the anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on the intellectual heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate, particularly the teachings of Sheikh Usmanu Bin Fodiyo, Abdullahi Fodio and Sheikh Muhammad Bello.

He highlighted their contributions to scholarship, moral reform, social responsibility, justice, accountability and good governance.

The Special Assistant on Public Communications to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent Umrah trip to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Shaibu made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The Atiku aide accused the President of turning the religious pilgrimage into a political tool by travelling with only northern governors.

“President Tinubu travelled with only Northern governors to Umrah, meanwhile his cabinet is fortified with Yoruba people. That is the height of hypocrisy,” he said.

Shaibu alleged that Tinubu deliberately selected northern governors to accompany him to Makkah in an attempt to gain political support in the region.

He argued that the President was aware of accusations that his administration favoured the Yoruba in political appointments and suggested that the choice of delegation was intended to counter that perception.

According to Shaibu, a government genuinely committed to inclusiveness should reflect Nigeria’s diversity rather than be dominated by people from the President’s ethnic group.

He urged Tinubu to separate religion from politics and concentrate on governance that promotes national unity.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to Project Nigeria, pledging to build a prosperous nation, invest in the future of young Nigerians and pursue development in accordance with the will of Almighty Allah and the aspirations of the people.

The President made the remarks on Monday while reflecting on his spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah.

During the visit, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, granted Tinubu the rare privilege of leading Nigeria’s delegation in prayers inside the Holy Ka’aba.

Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Ka’aba.

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after some members of the State Executive Committee rejected the campaign council recently unveiled by the state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The council, headed by the party’s 2026 governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was established to coordinate the presidential and parliamentary campaigns across the state.

However, in a statement rejecting the arrangement, the state Publicity Secretary, Wole Adunola; Assistant Organising Secretary, Rasheed Adeniji; and an ex-officio member, Abiola Ololade, argued that the list violated party rules and failed to accommodate key officials.

“We, therefore, reject the list in its present form,” they declared.

The officials specifically faulted the exclusion of several members of the State Working Committee, whom they said should automatically have been included in the campaign council.

“The exclusion of the recognised party officials raises serious concerns about consultation, due process, and respect for the party’s established leadership structure,” the statement said.

They also expressed concern that the newly announced council appeared to contradict President Bola Tinubu’s earlier decision to appoint Governor Ademola Adeleke as the head of his campaign in Osun State.

According to the aggrieved officials, Adeleke had already inaugurated a broad-based presidential campaign council on October 22, leaving them questioning the reason for the creation of another body without any clear explanation.

They maintained that the new council would only be justified if it was specifically intended to oversee the parliamentary elections.

“This distinction must be clearly established to avoid confusion, duplication of responsibilities, and unnecessary friction within the party’s campaign structure,” they said.

The officials further insisted that the state executive committee should not be excluded from decisions concerning the formation of a state-wide campaign council.

They stressed the importance of “mutual respect, proper coordination, and the active involvement of legitimate party stakeholders.”

To resolve the disagreement, the group called on the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the state Director-General to organise consultations aimed at harmonising the campaign structure.

Despite their objections, the officials reaffirmed their loyalty to President Tinubu and the party.

“We remain fully committed to the success of our presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the overall interests of the APC,” the statement read.

Lawal had on Monday announced Oyebamiji as the Director-General of the 2027 Presidential and Parliamentary Campaign Committee and named a 58-member Elders’ Council.

He explained that the decision followed the President’s inauguration of the national campaign council in Abuja and Adeleke’s inauguration of the state presidential campaign council.

According to the chairman, the arrangement was designed to strengthen the party’s mobilisation efforts for Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.