Treat All Nigerians As Indigenes, Sultan Urges Govs

His Eminence Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II has urged State governors across the federation to emulate Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State by abolishing the non-indigene status in the interest of the national cohesion

He made the call when paid Sallah homage to Governor Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, in Sokoto.

A statement issued by the Press Secretary to the governor of Sokoto State, Abubakar Bawa, quoted the Sultan of Sokoto as saying that in Sokoto, all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.

“In Sokoto, we don’t have non-indigenes, but rather members of the resident communities,” he added.

The monarch, therefore, called on other states to copy this pattern so as to further foster sustainable peace, harmony and good brotherhood among all Nigerians.

Sultan Abubakar also stressed the need the State governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.

“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.

“The governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.

He also commeneded Governor Aliyu for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, which he said has never happened in Sokoto state.

He also called on Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long-lasting peace the country is enjoying.

Sultan Abubakar, who is the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), further frowned at the way and manner some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.

He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.

Responding, Governor Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.

He blamed unemployment, especially among the youths, as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.

According to Aliyu, many youths have joined the league of informants to the criminals so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.

“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.

“I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he stated.

Governor Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritise Islamic affairs, adding that more mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.

He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration even as he called for the sustainance of the trend.