Sultan to politicians: Don’t make 2015 bloody

The Sultan of Sokoto yesterday urged the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take steps that would ensure the road to 2015 elections is not stained with people’s blood.

Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar spoke at his palace in Sokoto when he received PDP national chairman Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu who paid him a courtesy visit.

“There is the need to stabilise the nation’s polity. There is so much acrimony and mudslinging now going on in Nigeria. So many things are now happening in the nation’s polity contrary to what obtains in

other parts of the world,” he said.

“We need stability in Nigeria, not only in PDP. You need stability in PDP as the ruling party, so you have to do whatever it takes to ensure stability in our polity.

“As the ruling party you have to do whatever it takes to ensure that the road to 2015 election is not rough with blood of the innocent people. It must be very clean and clear so that whoever emerges as president everybody across the world would know that Nigerians are matured and they have elected whom they want to elect as their leader. There is no need of force.”

Sultan Sa’ad also said the use of violence always turn out to be counterproductive and therefore urged leaders to preach peace among Nigerians.

“Violence always begets violence and there is nowhere in the world where violence will bring peace,” he said.

He called on leaders to shun politics of hatred, saying this would not do well for Nigeria. The Sultan described Sokoto as home to all, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

He urged the PDP national chairman to bring his wealth of experience to bear in ensuring stability in the polity.

Earlier, Mu’azu said they were at the Sultan’s palace to show respect to him as father to all Nigerians.

He said the PDP respects the nation’s traditional institutions.

Muazu acknowledged the efforts of the Sultan towards ensuring peace and unity in the country, and solicited for prayers from him.