The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2019.
Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo Yamusa, made the appeal on Friday at the 29th Muslim Sister’s National Conference in Abuja.
” Let me justifiably appeal to government on 2019 election to demonstrate moral determination to conduct a credible, free and fair elections, to fulfill the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 21 Section 3,” he said.
The Sultan quoted the section as follows: “The will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government.
“The will shall be expressed in periodic and general elections which shall be made by universal equal suffrage through secret vote or free voting procedure.”
He, therefore, urged Muslim sisters to exercise their democratic franchise and support religious institutions in the realisation of credible elections in the country.
The monarch also called on religious leaders in Africa to preach good conduct and create high voltage of spiritual atmosphere especially by encouraging strict observance of the practice of Prophet Muhammad.
Earlier, Mrs Amina Sakaba, National Amira, Muslim Sister’s Organisation of Nigeria (MSO), an NGO, advised politicians to play according to the rules of the game as preparations for the 2019 general elections gather momentum.
Sakaba also urged politicians to see politics as a means of serving humanity and not an economic enterprise, stressing that leadership was about rendering selfless service to humanity.
The Amira enjoined the youth to shun all forms of violence and channel their energy to more productive ventures that would add value to their lives and the society.
She encouraged electorate to make proper use of the ballot box to install God-fearing leaders that would enhance the living conditions of the ordinary citizens in country.
Sakaba further called on Nigerians to vote for honest, patriotic and sincere politicians and pray to the Almighty Allah to give the country good leaders that would transform Nigeria into a better society.
She, however, admonished Muslim women to take their responsibility of proper upbringing of the coming generation of the society seriously.
She observed that drug abuse, political thuggery, indecency, rape, kidnapping and misuse of the social media had become common among youths in the country.
On his part, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), urged Muslims women to contribute meaningfully to the propagation of Islam and national development. (NAN)