The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned politicians and public office holders against sponsoring pilgrimages to the Holy lands of Mecca and Jerusalem with stolen public funds.

Mr Abubakar said that God does not accept corrupt offerings.

The Sultan gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) with the theme, “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”

Addressing participants, the traditional cum religious leader emphasised that religious leaders should actively collaborate with anti-corruption agencies to curb systemic graft.

He stated, “We, as religious leaders, must fight corruption because God Almighty doesn’t like corruption.

“You cannot steal money and send people to Jerusalem or Mecca with corrupt funds and think God will accept your deeds. God is not corrupt, so you cannot use corrupt money for hajj or anything else.”

The Sultan urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deal decisively with corrupt individuals, regardless of their political or religious affiliations.

He said, “Whoever is involved—our brothers, sisters, fathers, or friends—should face the law.

“When someone is facing the law, do not tell me he is the pastor of so-and-so church or the chief imam of so-and-so mosque. We do not want to hear that.”

He also urged the EFCC to discharge its duties without political interference.

Highlighting the importance of national unity, Mr Abubakar praised NIREC as a unique platform for fostering dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

He said that such regular interactions were essential for peace, stability, and national development.

He further urged religious leaders to prioritise genuine mutual understanding over mere tolerance.

“I keep telling people that I don’t want you to just tolerate me, because tolerance means enduring something you have no choice about. But if you understand me, we can work together because we know who we are to each other,” he said.

The Sultan also cautioned clerics to mind their utterances from the pulpit, especially during election periods.

He advised them to pray for national leaders rather than use religious platforms to incite division or attack public officers.

He paid tribute to the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Cornelius Omonokhua, commending his eight-year tenure for transforming the council into a vibrant national platform.

Mr Abubakar urged participants to discuss national issues openly and avoid spreading rumours upon returning to their communities.

In an overview of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project, Adedibu Ojerinde, described the manuals as a joint strategic initiative between the EFCC and Nigeria’s religious leadership to address the nation’s moral crisis.

Mr Ojerinde chairs the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC).

Mr Ojerinde said the project, the 2007 National Interfaith Forum on Corruption outcome, aims to mobilise the pulpit and minbar to transform public morality through dedicated preaching manuals anchored in biblical and Qur’anic texts.

He said the manuals, originally inaugurated in 2014 and re-inaugurated in January 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, were expanded to address contemporary challenges, including youth, cybercrime and money laundering vulnerabilities within religious institutions.

Mr Ojerinde said that the formal handover of the manuals to NIREC marked a shift from publication to practical execution.

He canvassed integration of anti-corruption themes into Friday sermons and Sunday messages.

The opening ceremony was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, government officials, security representatives and the media. 

(NAN)