The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has added its voice of caution to the disrespect and disregard of court orders by institutions of government, saying it will lead to disorder and chaos in the country.
The President-General of the Council, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, said those in government and the citizens must be law-abiding in the interest of national development.
He spoke in Abuja at the 2019 fourth quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council with the theme: “Religion and Civil Authorities in Dialogue for Nation-Building.’’
Making a veiled reference to the arrest of the #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Services in violation of a court order, Abubakar said:“Everyone must be law-abiding in the interest of national development.”
“We must regularly obey and respect the laws of our land. We should never disregard the laws to avoid the consequences. If a court makes a judicial pronouncement on a particular matter, it should be obeyed to the letter.
“If you have any problem or disagree with the pronouncement, the next step is to appeal the pronouncement instead of disregarding or violating court judgments.
“If you are served a court order and you deliberately refused to obey it because you are a governor, president or any influential person, then you are setting a dangerous precedent.”
“There’s no society that will prosper through lawlessness; Citizens must be law-abiding so that we can achieve the desired development.”
The NSCIA President-General also stressed the need for inter-religious dialogue in the country, noting that it would foster a better understanding among the people.
The Sultan charged the citizens to be wary of extremism and prevent extremists from causing trouble in the polity.
Stressing the importance of education in the country, Abubakar said there was ugent need to enrol street children in school and to combat the rising menace of drug abuse in the country.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha commended the Co-Chairmen and members of the NIREC for being steadfast in maintaining the peace and harmony in the country.
He said the Federal Government recognised the efforts of NIREC in bringing the two major religions together and providing religious leaders and traditional rulers a veritable forum to promote greater interaction.
The SGF said the forum would also promote understanding among the leaders and their followers as well as lay foundations for sustainable peace and religious harmony in the country.
“The time has now come for governments at all levels to sit down and discuss the issue of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence with our religious and traditional rulers because the success or failure of security administration in the country depends largely on both institutions.
“You, therefore, remain in the frontline of stakeholders in the business of peacebuilding in every community.”
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