The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Saad Abubakar III has warned elements who are bent on disrupting the May 29 handing over, to desist in order not the destroy the country’s peace and unity.
Nigeria will witness a new government come May 29, 2023, after the completion of the 8-year tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abubakar, who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, gave the warning in Abuja on Friday at the inauguration of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board (ANMMB) and the Board of Trustees of the Education, Social and Health Mission (MESH).
According to the Sultan, Nigeria has been able to sustain over 20 years of unbroken civilian government, adding that such participatory system of government should not be toiled with.
“Our dear Country is once again at a historical junction. In a matter of days, precisely the 29th of May 2023, there will be a change of baton from one Administration to another. It has been two dozen years of unbroken civilian rule.
The opportunity for the people to play a participatory role in deciding who governs them is a unique beauty of the democratic culture that must never be taken for granted. We are deeply elated with this trajectory. The predictions and projections by our implacable adversaries that as a people, we were going to go into disintegration and anarchy, have been marked by suffocating disappointment.
While we would not simulate that we have achieved perfection in all that we desire and pray for as a Country, that we have not been in war with one another, is a treasure that must not be miniaturized or taken for granted. Regardless of what our feelings may be, it is imperative that we collectively work to protect the democratic culture.
“I, therefore would like to implore Nigerians of all persuasions to support a smooth transition programme as peace is a critical platform for individual and societal progress. Let no one contemplate the disruption of smooth handling over of power from the outgoing administration to the incoming one. It is my conviction that together, with greater commitment and patriotism, we can build a peaceful and prosperous Country,” Abubakar said.
The Sultan before speaking on the state of the nation, constituted some committees to take charge of activities at the national mosque. Read his full statement below:
Reconstitution of Abuja National Mosque Management Board (ANMMB)
The Council, being the custodian of the National Mosque, on behalf of the entire Nigerian Muslim Ummah, and in line with the Rules and Regulations for the Abuja National Mosque, has from time to time constituted the Board for its management.
The tenure of the last Board, under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, expired in 2017 and for compelling reasons remained, until now, un-constituted.
I wish to take advantage of this opportunity to, on behalf of the entire Ummah, appreciate our revered Murshid, Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, for his meritorious service and the successes recorded within the short period he superintended over the administration of the Mosque. Some of the achievements are; construction of the shopping mall, establishment of an ICT training centre, renovation of the Mosque, setting up of an academy, secured additional land allocations, and setting up of a clinic, among others.
It is my hope that the new Board under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe will join hands with the leadership of the Council, the Murshid and other stakeholders to continue in the efforts to take the Mosque to its lofty position through positive innovations, commitment and consultations.
Brothers and sisters in Islam, on behalf of the General Assembly and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, I hereby inaugurate the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, as reconstituted.
I pray Almighty Allah to grant the new Board the vision, wisdom and ability to bring the desired development to the Mosque.
Membership of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board
HRH, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe – (Chairman)
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, CON, FNAL – (Secretary-General, NSCIA)
Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN – (Ag. National Legal Adviser, NSCIA)
Prof. Shehu Ahmad Sa’id Galadanci – (The Murshid)
Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq – (North-East)
Alh. Mustapha Bintube – (North-East)
Dr Talmiz Usman – (North-West)
Arc. Umaru Usman Karaye – (North-West)
General A. B. Mamman (Rtd) – (North-Central)
Sheikh Dr Tajudeen Adigun Bello – (North-Central)
Barr Haroun Eze – (South-East)
Engr Abdulmalik Attahiru – (South-East)
Dr Sule Ahmed (South-South)
Engr Jafaru Mahmud (South-South)
Alh. Sulaiman Abdulmajeed (South-West)
Alh. Kunmi Olayiwola (South-West)
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (1st Representative of the Government)
Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmad, FNSE (2nd Representative of the Government)
Board of Trustees (BoT) of MESH
The Council, as part of its efforts toward actualizing its avowed mission “to cater for, preserve, protect, promote and advance the interest of Islam and Muslims throughout Nigeria, established a relief and social project implementing arm in 2017. This arm is called “Education, Social and Health Mission (MESH).” The objective of the independent Mission is to provide basic services on education, social and health supports to the less privileged people in the Nigerian society.
Since its inception, MESH has leveraged on the limited financial and expansive social capital of the Council to implement several life-impacting projects across the country with a special attention on the Ummah. Through this, the Mission has carried out many interventions such as free medical outreach, construction and renovation of school buildings, provision of school uniform for pupils in IDP camps, life-skills training for people with special needs, scholarship awards to orphans, distribution of relief packages during Covid-19 lockdown as well as participation in the Nigerian democratic consolidation through regular observation of elections and active advocacy on the continuous voters’ registration.
The Mission had also solicited funding from well-meaning individuals and organisations. One of such organisations is Future-Assured Initiative, an NGO of Her Excellency, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, which funded a project on “Mitigating the Problems of Marriage Instability and Divorce in some Selected States in Nigeria”. The project was implemented in Adamawa, Kano, Niger, Sokoto, Osun and Kwara States for a period of about two years (September 2018 to March 2020).
Meanwhile, it is believed that it is now crucial to expand the scope and reach of MESH by adding more vim, vitality and vigour to its activities. To this end, the Council at the meeting of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC) held on March 30, 2022 approved the expansion of the membership of the MESH Board of Trustees (BoT) to accommodate some influential and resourceful Muslims in the society, including you all.
On behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, I hereby inaugurate the Board of Trustees of the Education, Social and Health Mission (MESH) as expanded.
MESH BoT
- His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA,
Alh. Muhammad Saad Abubakar-Chairman - Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, CON, FNAL-Member
- Dr Muhammad Kyari Dikwa, mni-Member
- Alh. Murtala Adeniji-Member
- Gen. A. B. Mamman (Rtd)-Member
- Prof. Salisu Shehu-Member
- Dr Mairo Mandara-Member
- Hajia Rahma Sani-Member
- Alh. Shuaib Abdullah-Member
- Malam Lawal Maidoki-Member
- Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, MFR-Member
- Barr Haroun Eze-Secretary
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