The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to stop insulting one another, stressing that mutual respect is essential for peaceful coexistence.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the Sultan said: “We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims. Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we will live in peace.”

He also cautioned against any sense of religious superiority, stating that neither Christians nor Muslims should regard themselves as better than the other.

“We are not here to say we are better than anybody. We are not better than anybody. He [God] is the creator of us all. He will determine who is better. And he knows how to do it. So I am not here to say I am better than anybody,” he said.

The remarks came days after Islamic cleric Yahaya Jingir suggested that Christians would have seen themselves as superior to Muslims if not for the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. 

Although the Sultan did not name Jingir, he emphasised that no religious group should claim superiority over another.He further urged Nigerians to revive the practice of caring for their neighbours regardless of religion or ethnicity. 

“Allah created your neighbour for you. Whoever is your neighbour, you know what is required of you to do for your neighbour,” he said.

The Sultan also criticised the spread of false and insulting statements on social media, warning that those who deliberately make false claims about presidents, governors, senators, and other public officials would answer to God. 

He called on Nigerians to focus on fixing the country rather than promoting its breakup.  

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