From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
In a unified and urgent appeal, Northern Nigeria’s top Islamic Clerics from various Sect and federal lawmakers have warned that the nation is teetering on the brink of chaos due to worsening insecurity and the “dangerous misuse” of social media.
The call was made during a congregational summit of Northern Ulamas in Kaduna, where prominent figures like the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and prominent senators demanded immediate action to regulate online platforms and unite the Muslim community.
The Sultan of Sokoto, one of the most revered Islamic leaders in Nigeria, set the tone for the summit, calling for the immediate regulation of social media, which he identified as a key driver of division and conflict.
Speaking through the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, the Sultan declared, “This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah,” and urged clerics to preach peace and national unity in line with Islamic teachings to counter the toxic online environment.
Also speaking Senator Abdulaziz Yari and House Majority Leader Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa echoed the Sultan’s concerns, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in this crisis.
Senator Yari stated that insecurity has deep roots in the North’s mineral-rich areas and that solutions must come from within, warning, “We can’t blame the government alone.”
On social media, Yari was unequivocal: “Social media doesn’t spare anyone. Rich or poor, we are all suffering from its abuse. It’s time we regulate it.” Doguwa pledged the National Assembly’s support for any initiative that unites the people and upholds Islamic values, stating, “Security is everyone’s business.”
Prominent lslamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi added a layer of geopolitical analysis, arguing that the insecurity is being exploited by external forces.
He claimed that banditry is fueled by outsiders targeting the region’s mineral wealth, using uneducated herders as pawns.
Gumi called for dialogue among all Islamic sects to tackle the underlying challenges of poverty and conflict. On social media regulation, he suggested a balanced approach, advocating for updated laws to tackle defamation without silencing free speech.
The summit concluded by addressing the broader economic disparities contributing to the region’s instability. Senator Yari pointedly remarked on the economic imbalance between the North and South, warning that Northerners cannot be “sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires.”
The gathering ended with a strong collective call for inter-sect cooperation, peaceful dialogue, and religious leadership to address the North’s interconnected security and economic crises.
The Islamic clerics emphasized the need for urgent action to regulate social media, address economic disparities, and promote unity among Islamic sects to prevent further chaos and ensure the stability of the region.