The umbrella body for northern Muslims, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), which is headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged both President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to accept the outcome of the presidential election in good faith in order to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
The JNI in a statement by its Secretary General, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, implored the political gladiators to “take the outcome in good fate and be sportsmanship,” adding that if “Allah spares our lives, we shall witness many more elections in Nigeria.”
The religious body urged that the polity should not be overheated so that the fragile peace in Nigeria should not be jeopardized.
“All forms of irregularities should be appropriately directed to the competent courts of law which are in tandem with best known practices across the globe.” “It is our prayers that free, fair, and credible general elections would be held in Nigeria. May the Almighty Allah continue to grant us peace, security, prosperity and development in Nigeria”.
The statement further advised “the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria to continue praying fervently for a hitch free general elections in the country” and directed all Jumu’ah Mosques Imams’ to focus their respective Khutbah-sermons for tomorrow, on violence free general election period and offer special prayers to that effect.”
The JNI also called on all parents, guardians and other stakeholders to monitor their children/wards very closely before, during and after the elections. “The youths should in the name of Allah (SWT), sheath their swords, as there are many more general elections ahead, thus they should be calm, peaceful and law abiding before, during and after the general elections,” the statement added.
It further appealed to opinion leaders, labour and student unions, community leaders, women and youth organizations to closely synergize with security agencies at their respective domains in order to maintain absolute peace.
