Hardship: Always pray for your leaders no matter how bad they are – Sultan begs Nigerians

SAHARA REPORTERS

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians to refrain from cursing their leaders, advocates instead for a culture of prayer, even in challenging times.

The Sultan made this known during a public lecture and special book presentation held at the University of Ilorin on Thursday, where he honoured Professor Is’haq Oloyede, the outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), who recently celebrated his 70th birthday.

The event featured the presentation of two books dedicated to Professor Oloyede: “Islamics, Scholarship and Service to Society: A Festschrift for Is’haq Olarewaju Oloyede” and “Glimpses into the Giant: A Tapestry of Tributes to Prof. Is’haq Oloyede at 70.”

The works reflect Oloyede’s contributions to academia and society, and the programme was organised by the KU8+ Consortium of Universities in Kwara State, where he serves as the director of the Board of Trustees.

In his address, the Sultan emphasised the importance of maintaining respect for leadership, regardless of political circumstances.

Nigeria is currently going through its arguably its worst economic crisis occasioned by the policies of President Bola Tinubu, which include ending the fuel subsidy regime and floating exchange rate.

“Don’t curse your leaders, no matter how bad they may be, but pray for them,” he stated.

He further encouraged Nigerians to abstain from negative speech about their leaders, asserting that even leaders who may appear ineffective deserve the goodwill and prayers of their constituents.

“Pray for your leaders, for Almighty Allah can guide them to change for the better, allowing you to enjoy their leadership. Avoid condemning them; regardless of their faults, they deserve your prayers,” advised the Sultan, head of the Muslim Community in the country.

During the ceremony where he bestowed the title of Kuliya of Sokoto upon Professor Is’haq Oloyede, the Sultan expressed his joy at visiting Ilorin, saying, “Every time I come to Ilorin, I feel immense happiness.”

“My first visit here was in 1984, nearly 40 years ago, as an Army Captain. We are grateful for Professor Oloyede’s life, and we pray for Allah’s protection over him. Even as he retires from the university, he will remain a valuable asset to Nigeria and humanity,” he said.

THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS