Muhammed Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, says the problems facing Nigerians are surmountable if Nigerians work together. The Sultan said on Saturday at the commissioning the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Darul’Ilm Centre for Islamic Studies in Kaduna built and donated by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi.
According to him, Nigeria is not the only country going through difficult times.
“We believe in our country, we believe in our ability to surmount all problems…
“When you have challenges and you overcome those challenges, they make you to move forward.
“We are going through difficult times in this country, but we are not the only ones.
There are so many countries going through difficult times, but we believe that there are no problems that cannot be surmounted…” he said
Speaking further, the sultan said continuous interaction among Nigerians will reduce the problems of religious differences to the barest minimum.
He said, “The coming together of people of different faiths and ethnicities will help bridge the gaps of disunity and de-emphasize the problems of this country.
“All we need is to keep on praying for our leaders.
“Pray for our president, governors , local government chairmen…
“The problems of this country are not insurmountable. So let’s have hope that by coming together like we have done today we will over come our problems.”
He described the school as a very special “in the sense that we are all gathered here to make history.”
“It is build for orphans, people who don’t have parents. We are the parents of such orphans and I believe what the DG of DSS has done is good.”
The sultan said “Religion is a personal thing, let’s not take religion to the level that it will bring hatred between us.
“We are all created by Allah and He doesn’t make mistakes…Let’s not allow our diversity to divide us.”
He said Nigeria is so blessed, noting that so many countries are jealous of Nigeria.
“We have so much human, natural and mineral resources…
“Let’s not play into the hands of people who don’t mean well for Nigeria.”
He commended the DG for building the school and suggested that the it be name after President Bola Tinubu for giving the Ajayi the opportunity to served.
“I believe the mentor of the DG of the DSS is Mr. President. He made an excellent choice in the appointment of the DG in the history of this country.
The DG has been reaching out to us solving a lot problems… “
Speaking, earlier the DSS boss, who was represented by a retired director of the Service, Alhaji Ahmed Zalmar, said he began nursing the idea to build the school during his years of service in the state.
The law setting up the DSS, he said, empowers the secret police to prevent five major threats to internal security, including espionage, insurgency, sabotage, subversion and terrorism.
As a trained security officer, the DSS boss, said he identified reducing discontent in the populace as a powerful coubter-subversion strategy.
He said he identified education as a key method of dousing discontent.
“The latest of such is the building and donation of the well-furnished modern Islamic school with support from my friends and associates, which also reflects the core mandate of President Tinubu,” said the DG.
“It is also part of my policies to improve the nation’s internal security architecture through conventional and non-conventional engagements,” he added.
Ajayi stressed that he chose to channel the support for the well-being of vulnerables and needy groups through several social projects, including building of schools, places of worship and sport centres, among other centres.
He clarified that had never used operational funds or budgetary provisions for the philanthropic gestures aimed to win the hearts of the vulnerable population towards defeating insurgency and terrorism.
“I have always channeled parts of Corporate Social Responsibilities and other financial support from stakeholders for such purposes,” he said
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, who was accompanied by his Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, emphasised the importance of education to Nigeria’s future.
He praised President Tinubu’s support for faith-based education initiatives and school feeding programmes.
“By 2050, 25 per cent of the global workforce will be African, with many from Nigeria,” noted the minister, stressing that, in spite of challenges, progress was evident in economic growth, increasing foreign reserves, stabilising inflation, and decreasing food and energy prices.
Dignitaries at the event include the state deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who represented Governor Uba Sani, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Dahiru Liman, who represented Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Commandant- General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Bamalli, serving and past DSS directors, among others.
