Security situation in Nigeria - The spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Tuesday met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa over the security situation in the country. The meeting took place two days after the Islamic sect , Boko Haram, attacked churches in three states, killing at least 40 people. After the closed-door meeting which lasted over two hours, the Sultan condemned the Christmas-day bomb blasts. He said: ''We are totally against what have been happening, we totally condemn all these. Nobody can take anybody's life, its unIslamic, its unGodly. All lives are sacred and must be respected and protected by all.’’

The Sultan said he was in the State House to commiserate with the President over the incidence and that they discussed various ways to ensure the stability of the nation and to move the country forward.

He said both Muslims and Christians would work together to overcome the challenge and ensure the unity of the nation.

The Sultan said: "I want to assure all Nigerians that there is no conflict between Christians and Muslims; between Islam and Christianity.

"It is a conflict between evil people and good people and the good people are more than the evil ones. The good people must come together to defeat the evil ones and that is the message.

"We want to assure all our Christian brothers and Christian leaders we stand on the path of truth according to our religion that we will continue to work, In sha Allah, for the greatness of this country."

As a way out, the Sultan said that government should look at past reports on all crisis in the country and call for a meeting of a larger body, including religious leaders and traditional rulers, for consultation.

He also emphasised the need for both Christians and Muslims to close ranks and work together to fight any form of violence in the country.

The Sultan denied speculations, in some circles, that Muslim leaders were in support of the attacks but came out in pretence to condemn in public.

"I speak as a Muslim leader and you know that we do not say what we do not mean. It is distasteful in the eyes of Almighty Allah, but we are quite aware of Almighty Allah's instruction to always speak the truth because we will go back to him to give account of what we have done on earth," the Sultan said.

The umbrella Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned that continuous attacks on churches could trigger a religious war, and said Christians would be compelled to defend themselves against future attacks.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi.

Pana 27/12/2011