The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has defended his decision to invite Dr. Zakir Naik, a prominent but controversial cleric, to attend the 10th Sheikh Usman bin Fordiyo week, stating that it right to the Muslims to invite fellow brother.
The event concluded on Thursday. But criticism trailed the cleric’s visit to Nigeria. One of such criticism emerged when Zakir Naik posted a picture of himself and Nigerian Airforce officers on social media and in the caption, addressed the security men as “Muslim Airforce,” a remark that didn’t go with Netizens.
Responding to the critics of the cleric’s visit to Nigeria, the monarch said, “Islam is one every where you go. As a Muslim, we have the right to invite fellow Muslim to interact with us. I met Dr Zakir Naik over 11 years ago.
“Sokoto is happy to receive you. We are Muslims and we are proud to be one. We are working for Islam not for everybody.
“We are Muslim by Allah divine will and nobody will change that. We thank Almighty Allah for making us Muslims,” he said during the closing ceremony held at the International Conference Centre, Sokoto.”
The Sultan said the visiting scholar was able to educate Muslims and non-Muslims on what Islam is all about.
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Also speaking, former Minister of Defence, Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, reiterated the loyalty of millions of Muslims in the country to the Sultan, stating their support for his efforts to promote Islam and foster peace and unity.
“We are behind you in all that you are doing to promote Islam and Foster peace and unity in the country,” he said
Governor of Sokoto state, Ahmed Aliyu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bello Sifawa, stressed the importance of knowledge in human and societal development.
“This is why the present administration makes repositioning and revitalizing religious knowledge one of its 9-point agenda,” he said