Sultan sues for collective efforts to fight terrorism

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III on Monday in Sokoto called for concerted efforts of stakeholders to fight terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism in the country.

Abubakar made the call when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, visited him in his palace.

The Sultan said the menace of terrorism, violence, fundamentalism and extremism were common to the two major religions of Islam and Christianity.

According to the Sultan, no one country can solely fight terrorism or extremism because they were not common to Nigeria alone.

“Nobody will wish his country to be embroiled in violence or crises.

Problems such as suicide bombing and other forms of extremism had crept into Nigeria,” the monarch said.

He said that the people must be educated in order to fight the menace effectively.

The Sultan said that Nigerians want transparent, credible, fair and acceptable polls in 2015 and beyond.

“We want elections not based on ethnicity or religion. Nigerians need peace and harmony.

“This is the Nigeria of our dreams, where all the citizens are free and equal,” the Sultan, averred.

The Sultan further urged the US and other countries to help Nigeria to fully achieve her goals.

Abubakar commended the US Government for its positive disposition towards Nigeria.

“The two countries have mutual and sustainable partnership that is working and it covers health, peace, education and democracy, among others,” he said.

Earlier, US Envoy, James Entwistle, had told the Sultan that he was in state as part of his nationwide visit to see things for himself and assess the realities.

Entwistle also said that Nigeria and the US would continue to do things together to make the world a better place.

The Ambassador further stated that his country was watching the political and democratic trends in Nigeria.

“We will do everything to assist in the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2015,' he said.

Entwistle also commended the inter-faith dialogue approach of the Sultan to ensure harmony and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria and abroad.

He said that religion and ethnicity should not be used to divide the people of a great country like Nigeria.

He commended the Sultan for his relentless commitment to fight the menace of polio and other health problems in Nigeria.