TheCable

Sa’ad Abubakar, sultan of Sokoto, says politicians can account for how herdsmen acquire guns that they use in attacking people.

Speaking during a civic reception, which the Nsukka Socio-Cultural zone in Enugu organised in his honour, the monarch challenged the government to investigate how herdsmen acquire arms and ammunition.

Abubakar said Nigerians had the option to live as one united family, expressing confidence that the various ethnic and interest groups in the country can co-exist peacefully if there is justice.

“They have always asked us how the herdsmen acquired these ammunition, but I throw the question back to the politicians; find out how people acquire the guns,” he said.

“Find out how the herdsmen that move with AK47 riffles acquire them.”

Abubakar regretted that contemporary Nigerians had failed to build on the foundation laid by the country’s founding fathers.

He said there were more cohesion and integration between preceding generations than the new generation.

The sultan attributed the seeming mistrust among Nigerians to misinformation and ignorance.

“As Nigerians we can be the best of families if we want to. We have refused to come together as a nation due to ignorance and suspicion,” he said.

“Our visit here is to strengthen relationships, having started my youthful life in Nsukka 39 years ago.

“My coming here is at the right time, considering the loss of lives due to insecurity in parts of the country.”

Abubakar said no Nigerian would aim at killing an Igbo man in any part of the country for whatever reason, adding that they were only targetted because of their hard work.

“Nobody in the northern part of the country has been aiming at an Igbo man to kill,” he said.

“Miscreants target them because they are the most industrious and the people that move the economy.

“That is why their shops and other businesses are mostly the target during unrests because the hoodlums are sure to find valuables in the shops.”

He said he was overwhelmed at the love shown him by Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, governor of the state and residents of Enugu.

Abubakar is on a three-day visit to the state to inaugurate road projects executed by Ugwuanyi’s administration.