Hunger Protest: Sultan Sues For Calm, Cautions Against Escalation   

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar on Thursday called for calm and restraint while he cautioned Nigerians against the escalation of the ongoing nationwide hunger protest.

The Sultan who is also the President of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), appealed to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as other critical stakeholders to sheath their swords and urgently come to the table for dialogue with the government.

The Sultan, in a statement by JNI’s Secretary General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the Caliphate feared genuine escalation of the protest to an uncontrollable scenario and the reports were tilting towards that direction.

He said, “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.

“With tomorrow being Friday, Jumu’ah mosque Imams and Muslim leaders are implored to calm nerves and call on the Ummah to appreciate peace than chaotic state of affairs, which may even deny us congregational prayers.”

He continued, “The Qur’anic guidance in trying moments remains “When the suffering reached them from us, why then did they not learn humility?” Qur’an 6:43.

“Hence, sober reflection, sincere humility and continued prayer to Allah, the Ever Merciful is the antidote of the quagmire. The Prophet (peace

be upon him) said, “supplication is a weapon of the believer and the light of the heavens and the earth”.

The foremost monarch therefore appealed for continued prayers for Allah’s apt intervention.

The royal father equally called upon all Imams to commence sustained supplications and/or prayers at this moment of grief, through Qunootun-Nawazil (special prayers at calamitous periods in the last Raka’ah of each obligatory prayer and non-obligatory prayers).

The call, the Sultan noted has become imperative bearing in mind that the protest was getting out-of-hand, “and the consequence of which 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.

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

“Muslims are as well 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.”

Nevertheless, the Sultan also implored President Bola Tinubu to address the nation to assure all Nigerians that peace, security, stability, relief to hardship and food security would be achieved under his stewardship.

In the same vein, the Sultan urged the governors across the nation to calm frayed nerves, maintaining that “silence is no longer golden.”