Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, has warned public officials and politicians not to use pilgrims’ stolen public cash to travel to Mecca and Jerusalem. The Sultan gave a speech on Wednesday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of a stakeholders’ meeting with the topic “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria,” which was hosted by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, or NIREC.
He claimed that the spiritual goal of religious activities could not justify the use of corrupt finances to fund them.
“You cannot expect God to approve of your actions if you steal money and use corrupt monies to transport people to Jerusalem or Mecca.
He declared, “You cannot use corrupt money for Hajj or anything else because God is not corrupt.”
In order to combat corruption and advance accountability, Abubakar also asked religious leaders to collaborate with anti-corruption organisations.
He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, to do its functions free from political intervention.
Stronger interfaith connections are essential for peaceful coexistence, the Sultan added, urging religious leaders to foster understanding between Christians and Muslims.
Additionally, he advised clerics to pray for national leaders instead of using religious platforms to sow discord and warned them against making divisive remarks, especially during election seasons.