The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged politicians and public office holders to stop using stolen public funds to sponsor pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem.
Abubakar gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), themed “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”
The Sultan said corrupt funds should not be used for religious activities, stressing that religious leaders must work with anti-corruption agencies to tackle corruption in the country.
He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute individuals involved in corruption, regardless of their political, religious or social affiliations.
Abubakar urged the commission to perform its duties without political interference and warned against using religious identity or status as a shield from prosecution.
He further called on religious leaders to promote peace, unity and mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims, rather than merely tolerating one another.
The Sultan also cautioned clerics against making inflammatory statements from their pulpits, particularly during election periods. He urged them to pray for national leaders and avoid using religious platforms to promote division.
Abubakar commended the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Cornelius Omonokhua, for his eight-year service and contribution to the development of the council.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee, Adedibu Ojerinde, highlighted the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project, an initiative involving the EFCC and religious leaders.
Ojerinde said the manuals were developed to help address corruption through sermons and teachings rooted in biblical and Qur’anic principles. He called for anti-corruption messages to be incorporated into Friday sermons and Sunday services.
The meeting was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, government officials, security representatives and members of the media.
(NAN)