SAYING IT AS IT IS : Sultan decries inciting preaching:.. I have never heard anywhere where they called Christians terrorists. But, consistently, you will hear ‘Islamic terrorists’ despite our relentless effort to convince them that those committing such atrocities against humanity are not doing it in the name of Islam. They are not true Muslims.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Supreme Council for Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, has deplored inciting preaching by clerics and urged Muslim leaders to propagate messages that promote peace and unity in the country. He said the time had come for the Council of Ulamas to constitute a committee of reputable Muslims to sieve and where necessary sanction erring preachers.

The traditional ruler gave the charge yesterday at a meeting of the Council of Ulamas of Nigeria in Sokoto State at the Sultan Maccido Institute of Qu’anic and Islamic Studies. He also admonished Muslims to abide by the teachings of the religion. Also yesterday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement on the activities of Boko Haram in the country.

It described the president’s statement that the terror group had killed more Muslims than Christians as “unfortunate and a veiled attempt to distort the truth”.

President Jonathan was last week quoted as saying that Muslims were the major victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the north.

The Sultan lamented that religious leaders had gone after the things of the world such that they no longer tell their followers the truth about Islam. “Islam which was hitherto known for peace is now linked with terrorism the world over. Muslims are being targeted.

I have never heard anywhere where they called Christians terrorists. But, consistently, you will hear ‘Islamic terrorists’ despite our relentless effort to convince them that those committing such atrocities against humanity are not doing it in the name of Islam. They are not true Muslims.”

He advised Muslims to put their house in order, “forget whatever differences we have and tell the world that Islam is all about peace”. The Sultan further counseled that preachers should concentrate on what would unite and bring peace to the people instead of “inciting or insulting people through their preaching”.