- Safiu Kehinde
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to be more open to criticism and engagement with critics like human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, rather than silencing them.
Abubakar gave the charge at an event organised by the National Peace Committee,
The event, tagged “A Whole-of-Society Approach to the Prevention of Violence and Conflict in Northern Nigeria”, was held on Thursday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja.
While delivering his welcome address on the persistent challenges of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, the Sultan harped on the need for the Ribadu to allow critics air their views and opinion.
He then made reference to Sowore who he described as president Sowore with the small letter ‘p’.
The Sultan expressed his surprise to see the two-time presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) at the event as he charged the NSA to listen to his criticism rather than silencing him.
“I urge the NSA not to look back. You’ll have criticism, you’ll have critics — let them talk, but listen. Those you’ll bring close to you, like president Sowore, bring him close.
“When I say ‘president’, it is president with a small letter p. It’s only President Tinubu who has a capital letter P. So, president Sowore come close, say you own mind.
“There is nothing wrong in you saying your mind because the more you allow somebody bring what is in his chest, the better for you and him.
“The moment you turn down somebody and tie him, you allow him to go haywire.
“When I was coming in, I met president Sowore there. I was very surprised to him.
“But I was also very happy to see him because we will hear from him what are the issues that he think the government should do or must do for him to be a happier person.
“Because when he is happy, the people that follow him, respect him, and believe him will also be happy. And that is life. But the more you tie somebody down, tie his neck, twist him and he can’t talk, you don’t know what he wants to say.
“But let him open his mouth and say what he wants to say.” The Sokoto monarch said.