Chairman’s Message Delivered by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, President-General, NSCIA, on the occasion of the Formal Islamic Programme to Mark the 56th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, held on Friday, 30th September, 2016 at the Conference Hall, National Mosque, Abuja
WORK AND PRAY FOR NIGERIA
I give thanks and adoration to the Almighty Allah for making it possible for us to converge on this hall today just as we planned. No plan ever materializes without His divine will and nothing comes to pass without His supreme approval.
I heartily welcome our distinguished personalities and important guests to this august event in the month of September. Allah knows you all individually and collectively. I pray that He reward you abundantly for honouring us and His religion of peace with your appreciated presence.
Let me quickly acknowledge that this event organized in commemoration of the Independence anniversary of our dear nation is rare in the annals of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Commemorating our Independence anniversaries has always been limited to organizing special and supplications in the Masjid.
However, as our beloved country marks its 56th Independence anniversary, it is considered appropriate to introduce this component as part of the contributions of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to the country. It is our fervent hope that this type of event will be sustained in the years ahead and the programme of today will go a long way in sensitising us on the need of the day based on where the country currently stands.
Your Excellencies, distinguished and honorable Nigerians, 56 years may be much in the life of a person. In the life of nation, it is a short period of time. It is on this note that I want to urge us all to remain committed to the Nigerian nation and be confident in the ability of our elected leaders to sail the nation through its turbulent times.
That these are turbulent times for our country is evident in nefarious activities of certain criminals known as Boko Haram, though thankfully degraded now, in some parts of the North. The reality of today is glaring in the economic sabotage and restiveness in some parts of the South as well as armed robbery and kidnapping in other parts of the country. Today’s Nigeria is manifest in the distressed economy, a consequence of our prodigal past which was characterized by the heavy scourge of institutionalized corruption.
As people of faith, it is our unshakeable belief that Nigeria will certainly overcome the problems she faces if we do the needful. The country is ours and only Nigerians can make the country better. Yet, things cannot be better if we do not change, a truism that cannot be counteracted by the politics of hailing and wailing.
The need of the day is for us to work and pray. It is axiomatic that work without prayer is half-empty and prayer without work is half-full. It is by combining the two that we are going to succeed as a nation united under one God, the Almighty Allah. We have every reason to be hopeful that the current work being done by the leadership of this country, under the incorruptible General Muhammadu Buhari, will rescue the country from its real and perceived problems, supported with our prayers.
In spite of the difficulties the country may be going through, one thing is gratifying. Our country is blessed with a leadership that commands the respect of the international community based on high ethical principles at the highest levels. Our country is blessed with those who have the fear of God at the highest level of authority.
As Allah promises that certainly with every difficulty, there is ease, we urge Nigerians to have faith and believe that better days are ahead. We should be optimistic because the dark clouds of uncertainty that hanged precariously over the country last year, predicted by some prophets of doom to be the last year of Nigeria as a corporate entity, are over. The coast is now clear for the country to sail smoothly to the harbour of greatness.
If lamentations are what it requires to bring Nigeria to where she should be, we would have been strident in lamenting. But we believe it is work and prayers that can do it. It is therefore for this reason that we urge Nigerians on this auspicious occasion to WORK for the greatness of Nigeria and PRAY for her development and progress.
On the last note, I want to urge you all to listen attentively to the lecture of today as I have every reason to believe that we will benefit from it. As the Prophet (SAW) told us, knowledge is a lot property of the believer, he picks it wherever he finds it. This occasion offers a veritable platform for knowledge and we are welcome to pick it as we deem fit.
Once again, thank you all for coming and we pray that Allah continue to guide our leaders right and protect this country from the evils of its own citizens.
Happy Independence Anniversary, Nigeria!
Thank you very much for your attention.
His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni
President-General, NSCIA
