BREAKING NEWS: Sharia Is Not For Christians, It Shouldn’t Be Imposed On Non-Muslims – Sultan
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has said it is wrong to subject Christians to Sharia law, emphasising that Islamic law is strictly meant for Muslims..Read Full Original
He made the statement on Wednesday at the opening of the 2025 triennial meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, themed, “Collaboration of Inter-Religious Council with Government to Promote Peace in Nigeria.”
The Sultan stated that Nigeria is a multi-religious, not secular, nation and that the government has not adopted Islam or Christianity as a state religion. Instead, he said, the government supports both major religions equally.
The Sultan said that Sharia law will never be implemented for any non-Muslim, advising that Christians should not be made to dress or pray like Muslims.
While emphasising that the Sharia is purely 100 per cent for Muslims, Abubakar explained that Nigeria is more of a multi-religious country than a secular state.
Responding to recent calls for Sharia’s abolition, the Sultan noted that Nigeria allows the practice of all religions without interference and warned against mischaracterising religious freedom in the country.
NIREC-Govt Partnership Key To Peace — Speaker Abbas
In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, called for stronger collaboration between NIREC and the Federal Government to strengthen peace-building efforts and address rising insecurity.
He noted that extremists continue to exploit religious sentiments to threaten national unity.
Abbas said, “This gathering is symbolic and comes at a time when violent extremists are sowing discord. It signifies the need for synergy between NIREC and the government.
“We must challenge stereotypes and show that the negative narrative on inter-religious relations, especially the story of genocide against members of a particular religion, is false and misleading.”
He assured the council of legislative support to implement the actionable peace strategies proposed during the meeting.
Nigeria’s Unity Non-Negotiable — SGF Akume
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said Nigeria continues to face serious internal security challenges, worsened by political rhetoric and eroded mutual trust.
Akume warned against external pressure and false narratives about Nigeria’s security situation.
“Our independence and sovereignty are non-negotiable. We cannot allow terror or division to sink the ship of state,” he said.
He called on religious leaders, traditional rulers, and community figures to unite and promote peace through strategic collaboration.
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said Nigeria was at a critical moment in its history, with insecurity threatening national cohesion.
He said faith-based organisations remain among the most trusted institutions in the country and should be harnessed for peace-building.
“Faith institutions have immense potential for strengthening security and sustaining peace,” Okoh stated.
He called for closer collaboration between the government and religious bodies like NIREC to foster dialogue, mobilise communities, and nurture social harmony.
Religious Leaders Must Help Tackle Terrorism — NIREC Sec
Earlier, Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, stressed the need for religious leaders to partner with the government in defeating terrorism and banditry.
He reminded the gathering that “every human life is precious to God” and urged leaders to work together to secure the lives of all Nigerians.
Omonokhua prayed for divine wisdom for leaders, transformation for criminals, and a national shift towards positive values and mental re-engineering.Read Full Original