Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has clarified comments made by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, on Islamism, stressing that the concept is rooted in the pursuit of good governance and not in the quest for political power.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, the Sultan said Bishop Kukah’s description of Islamism appeared to have been misunderstood or miscommunicated in a way that could make some people perceive Islam negatively.
“I want to correct what Bishop Kukah said about Islamism. You used some words maybe in a wrong manner, or somebody might feel Islam is negative,” the Sultan said.
“Islamism is not aimed at seizing power at any particular forum. Islamism is after good governance in society and whoever is there.”
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The Sultan cited the example of Muslim leaders’ support for former President Goodluck Jonathan to illustrate that their focus has always been on governance rather than political control.
“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,” the Sultan stated.
He added that misconceptions about Islamism have long existed, recalling how one of his speeches in 2019 was wrongly interpreted as a veiled criticism of then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
“In 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, the following day, the papers carried that I was aiming at President Buhari because I said things that a good Muslim should do as a leader and what he should not do,” he said.
The Sultan emphasized that Islamic leadership and governance principles are guided by clear religious foundations and scholarly consensus.
“We have a code of conduct; we have ways and means of life—the Holy Qur’an, the hadith of our most noble Prophet (SAW), and the consensus of the ulama. These are the three things guiding us,” he concluded.
