The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna
The Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has hit back at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over its recent disclaimer regarding the planned foundation laying ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Sunday, the Sultan’s team described CAN’s public rejoinder as “unnecessary,” maintaining that the monarch was formally invited as the “Royal Father of the Day.”
The controversy erupted after CAN moved to distance itself from reports linking the Sultan to the event. The Christian body claimed it neither issued nor approved an invitation to the Sultan, asserting that any document suggesting otherwise originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The Invitation Dispute
Despite CAN’s denial, the Sultan’s media team, in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, insisted that an official invitation was duly delivered to the Sultan’s palace.
According to the statement, the invitation listed high-ranking government officials alongside the Sultan:
Royal Father of the Day: His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
Distinguished Guest of Honour: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Mother of the Day: First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Host: SGF, Senator George Akume.
The Sultan’s team further clarified that the event’s logistics listed the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and Archbishop Peter Ogunmiyiwa as the RSVP and Organising Chairman, respectively.
Interfaith Diplomacy vs. Bureaucracy
The Sultan, who serves as the Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), expressed concern over the “impression” created by CAN’s public denial. The media team emphasized that the Sultan did not lobby to attend the event, but viewed his participation as a means to foster inter-religious harmony.
“The Sultan’s presence at a Christian ceremony would foster inter-religious peace and harmony,” the statement noted.
The team pointed out that global religious leaders frequently participate in activities outside their faith traditions to promote peace, arguing that Nigeria should be no different.
A Call for Unity
The team urged leadership of CAN to prioritize communications that promote “peaceful coexistence” among Nigerians of diverse backgrounds rather than focusing on administrative disagreements.
“The Media Team urged CAN to focus its public communications on promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds,” the statement read.
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the SGF—which CAN identified as the source of the invitation—has yet to clarify the mix-up between the government and the Christian association.
The incident underscores the lingering sensitivities in Nigeria’s inter-religious relations, even within the context of state-sponsored ecumenical projects.