Sultan: Tribal Politicians Bent On Destabilising Nigeria

Some politicians are bent on tearing the country apart, Sultan
of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, claimed on Monday.

He urged patriotic Nigerians not to let anyone destabilise the
nation.

He spoke at a retreat organised by the Northern caucus of the
House of Representatives on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The Sultan reminded the lawmakers that no matter how important a
piece of legislation might be, it cannot function effectively
without peace.

Represented by the Dan Madamin Sokoto, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed
Maishanu, the Sultan said: “Today, tribal politicians are bent on
tearing the fabric of our nation apart under different guises.

“As patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians, we should not fold our
arms and watch them destroy our unity.

“I, therefore, urge you, as grassroots politicians, to continue
to support government efforts in restoring peace and stability
across the country as no nation can prosper under chaos.

“All Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live
peacefully and pursue their legitimate businesses in any part of
the country they so choose, be it in the market or in the
forest.

“We must reject all ill-conceived schemes that are divisive,
schemes that are setting Nigerians against fellow Nigerians.

“We must abhor laws that are capable of causing inter-tribal or
inter-regional disharmony. All men are created equal and the unity
of Nigeria is sacrosanct”.

The Sultan noted that the nation was passing through multiple
challenges, adding that the government was doing the best it can to
improve the situation.

He said: “At the back of every effort we make, we must
underscore the need to strengthen our national unity, boost our
economy to provide employment to our growing youth population.

“Our economy has for more than five decades remained dependent
on oil, but today the world is moving away from oil to clean
energy, therefore, it is of great importance for the 9th Assembly
to treat the PIB as a priority before it is too late.

“Almighty Allah Has blessed our nation with abundant hydrocarbon
resources but we are yet to fully discover and tap these resources
due to suboptimal regulations.

“We continue to talk about poverty, unemployment and the
attendant insecurity while we are sitting on billions of barrels of
hydrocarbon from Sokoto Basin to Chad Basin, and from Gongola to
Bida and Benue Trough Basins untapped.”

The Sultan believes the passage of the PIB would boost
hydrocarbon exploration.

He said: “We should have a PIB that will encourage massive
hydrocarbon exploration in those frontier basins, a PIB that will
attract foreign investors to bring their funds and develop the
resources, a PIB that will guarantee optimum value to Nigerian
people and investors, and a PIB that will strengthen Nigerian
economy and boost our sense of unity as citizens of one Nation.

“The passage of the PIB will enable Nigeria to commercialise
these huge hydrocarbon reserves, to get more funds to develop other
sectors of the economy such as education, health, agriculture,
solid minerals, technology and innovation, manufacturing and
infrastructure before the end of the oil economy.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Mohammed
Bello said though efforts were ongoing to diversify the economy, it
was important to ensure efficient and effective management of the
oil sector.

He said that the lawmakers must ensure that the PIB does not
only bring about reforms in the oil and gas sector, but it should
also meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

He asked them to consider including the funding for renewable
energy in the bill as it is the new trend that will keep the
economy going.

Bello said adequate attention should be given to making gas
available to all Nigerians to replace the use of firewood.

According to him, the use of gas was far cheaper and would
prevent indiscriminate felling of trees.

Some politicians are bent on tearing the country apart, Sultan
of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, claimed on Monday.

He urged patriotic Nigerians not to let anyone destabilise the
nation.

He spoke at a retreat organised by the Northern caucus of the
House of Representatives on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The Sultan reminded the lawmakers that no matter how important a
piece of legislation might be, it cannot function effectively
without peace.

Represented by the Dan Madamin Sokoto, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed
Maishanu, the Sultan said: “Today, tribal politicians are bent on
tearing the fabric of our nation apart under different guises.

“As patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians, we should not fold our
arms and watch them destroy our unity.

“I, therefore, urge you, as grassroots politicians, to continue
to support government efforts in restoring peace and stability
across the country as no nation can prosper under chaos.

“All Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live
peacefully and pursue their legitimate businesses in any part of
the country they so choose, be it in the market or in the
forest.

“We must reject all ill-conceived schemes that are divisive,
schemes that are setting Nigerians against fellow Nigerians.

“We must abhor laws that are capable of causing inter-tribal or
inter-regional disharmony. All men are created equal and the unity
of Nigeria is sacrosanct”.

The Sultan noted that the nation was passing through multiple
challenges, adding that the government was doing the best it can to
improve the situation.

He said: “At the back of every effort we make, we must
underscore the need to strengthen our national unity, boost our
economy to provide employment to our growing youth population.

“Our economy has for more than five decades remained dependent
on oil, but today the world is moving away from oil to clean
energy, therefore, it is of great importance for the 9th Assembly
to treat the PIB as a priority before it is too late.

“Almighty Allah Has blessed our nation with abundant hydrocarbon
resources but we are yet to fully discover and tap these resources
due to suboptimal regulations.

“We continue to talk about poverty, unemployment and the
attendant insecurity while we are sitting on billions of barrels of
hydrocarbon from Sokoto Basin to Chad Basin, and from Gongola to
Bida and Benue Trough Basins untapped.”

The Sultan believes the passage of the PIB would boost
hydrocarbon exploration.

He said: “We should have a PIB that will encourage massive
hydrocarbon exploration in those frontier basins, a PIB that will
attract foreign investors to bring their funds and develop the
resources, a PIB that will guarantee optimum value to Nigerian
people and investors, and a PIB that will strengthen Nigerian
economy and boost our sense of unity as citizens of one Nation.

“The passage of the PIB will enable Nigeria to commercialise
these huge hydrocarbon reserves, to get more funds to develop other
sectors of the economy such as education, health, agriculture,
solid minerals, technology and innovation, manufacturing and
infrastructure before the end of the oil economy.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Mohammed
Bello said though efforts were ongoing to diversify the economy, it
was important to ensure efficient and effective management of the
oil sector.

He said that the lawmakers must ensure that the PIB does not
only bring about reforms in the oil and gas sector, but it should
also meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

He asked them to consider including the funding for renewable
energy in the bill as it is the new trend that will keep the
economy going.

Bello said adequate attention should be given to making gas
available to all Nigerians to replace the use of firewood.

According to him, the use of gas was far cheaper and would
prevent indiscriminate felling of trees.