SULTAN ABUBAKAR III AND SOKOTO STATE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, MUKHTARI SHAGARI AT THE EID-EL-KABIR CELEBRATION IN SOKOTO…YESTERDAY.
The Sultan of Sokoto yesterday joined the long list of eminent citizens and ordinary folks, who have pleaded with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and resident doctors to return to work and embrace dialogue in resolving their disputes with the federal government.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, spoke at his palace in Sokoto while delivering his Eid-el-Kabir message.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on all those on strike, especially university lecturers, to call off their strike, so as to reduce the suffering of the people,” he said, adding that “they should go back to the negotiating table in order to bring an end to the crisis”.
Sultan Abubakar further said: “The matter is of great concern to Nigerians. This creates problems in the development of the country. We call on the government to listen to the complaints of the workers with the intention of solving them. The workers, on their part, should always be mindful of the suffering of teeming populace in the country.
“The strike by university lecturers, which is in its fourth month now, has caused a lot of hardship to millions of students and their parents, just as the strike by medical doctors has led to loss of several lives and untold sufferings for the sick, who cannot afford going to private clinics,” the Sultan lamented.
He, therefore, appealed to the lecturers and medical doctors to call off their strike actions and go back to the negotiation table in order to resolve the industrial crisis.
The monarch also expressed worry over the insecurity situation in the country, saying “it is a matter of great concern”.
He urged Muslims to live peacefully with all and avoid all acts of violence.
“The Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) has cursed anyone, who serves as a source of insecurity.
“As a result of this, we wish to call on the politicians, especially those holding executive positions, to help in ensuring the security of this country and to conduct themselves in truth and fear of Allah.”
According to the Muslim leader, such would lead to the desired progress and peace in the nation.
“They should consider the security situation of the country and try to improve the lot of the people who elected them, so as to bring meaningful development to the nation,” he maintained.
The Sultan urged governments to empower the youth through proper education and moral training, and the provision of employment opportunities because in his view, most acts of violence in the country are as a result of unemployment.
“This would enhance the security situation and bring the desired peace in this country,” he stressed.
-The Nation
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