PEACE MESSAGE OF THE SULTAN
The Sultan of Sokoto, His eminence, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar recently graced the first year anniversary of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, with a personal visit to the state capital Gusau, to commission the newly constructed Zakkat and endowment house, as part of the several projects completed to mark the Governor's one year in office.
The royal visit was not only viewed as a mark of honour and recognition of the achievements recorded by the governor within his first year in office, but was seen as a demonstration of deep concern for cushioning the social hardship through the distribution of Zakkat to the needy. His visit to the state had added colour and flesh to the anniversary, as thousands of people trouped to the venue to witness the memorable event, which was the second of its kind after a similar visit he made last three years to commission an Islamiyya school complex in Tudun Wada area of the state capital.
In a 10 minutes speech he delivered before he formally commissioned the Zakkat house complex, the Sultan described his visit as an obligation in view of the significance of Zakkat in Islam. He reminded the Muslim community that the collection and distribution of Zakkat to the needy is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam which is not only an obligation, but is a compulsory tenet as divinely instructed by the religion.
He explained that if Zakkat is regularly and duly collected and distributed to the poor, it would certainly serve as handy means of fighting and reducing the pains of poverty and subsequently reducing insecurity, tension and social violence often generated from poverty.
'I enjoin every Muslim to put away political differences for the service in Islam' the Sultan stated, explaining that the religion of Islam does not recognise political discrimination, ethnic or tribal differences, 'but everyone must come together in brotherhood to maintain and promote peace and security across the nation'.
He further charged every individual in the state and beyond, to accord maximum support and cooperation to laudable intension of Governor Yari in his efforts to maintain a sustainable structure of the initiative started by the erstwhile Governor Sani Yarima, subsequently improved by the immediate past Governor Shinkafi and now being sustained by the Governor Yari.
'We are not in the state to celebrate over the governor's election victory' the Sultan added, but rather he described the visit as both an obligation and also a congratulatory gesture to the governor for upholding the trust reposed on him, particularly in sustaining and improving upon the important legacy initiated and maintained by his predecessors.
Speaking on the national peace and security, Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar charged all Muslims across the country to take it as a duty to observe the ethics of respect for one another irrespective of his religious calling, as this is the ideal manner demanded of every good Muslim to ensure social peace and security in our bid to foster a harmonious co-existence.