I Want To Correct What Bishop Kukah Said On Islamism, Somebody Might Feel Islam Is Negative
— Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, has corrected Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto regarding statements about Islamism, clarifying that the concept focuses on good governance rather than seizing political power.
The Sultan addressed what he described as Bishop Kukah's mischaracterization of the term during a media coverage by Arise TV. "And I want to also correct what Bishop Kukah said about Islamism. You used some words maybe in a wrong manner, or somebody might feel Islam is negative.
Islamism is not aimed at seizing power at any particular forum. Islamism is after good governance in society and whoever is there," he said.
The Sultan cited the support Muslim leaders gave to former President Goodluck Jonathan as evidence of their focus on governance rather than power. "President Jonathan was president.
We gave him 100% support throughout his presidency. Nobody said anything negative about him. He knows that, and he's here.
So Islamism is not what you think it is. It's a wrong notion that you are bringing up here—that it's to seize power. It's not to seize power. We are after good governance," the Sultan stated.
He referenced a speech he delivered that was misinterpreted as criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari. "September 2019, I gave a talk on Islam and good governance in Nigeria. President Buhari was just going for a second term.
After I finished my talk, the following day, papers carried that I was aiming at President Buhari's second term because I said things that a good Muslim should do as a leader and what he should not do. And these are written," the Sultan explained.
He emphasized that Islamic leadership principles are based on established religious texts and scholarly consensus. "So we have a code. We have a code of conduct.
We have ways and means of life: the Holy Quran and the hadith of our most noble Prophet SAW Mohammed, and the consensus of the ulama—the clerics. These are three things guiding us," the Sultan explained.