Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Mohammad Abubakar II has appealed to Nigerians to desist from condemning their leaders and, instead, pray for them.

Speaking at the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, held in Kaduna, the Sultan highlighted the importance of prayer and unity for the nation, reminding leaders of their ultimate accountability before God.

“Do your best in worshiping Allah (God) and leave the rest to Him, not to anybody. Don’t follow those who will lead you astray. So many things have been happening in this country, and we believe we must return to Allah. Intensify prayers for our country in all mosques,” the Sultan stated.

Addressing widespread discontent with the nation’s current challenges, he said, “A lot of people say we have never had it so bad, but no matter how difficult it is, ease will come. We believe nothing lasts forever. Nothing bad and nothing good lasts forever. Let us intensify prayers in our congregations and encourage our followers to pray for our leaders. We will not castigate them; we will allow Almighty Allah to deal with them as He wishes and He will.”

The Sultan also reminded public officials that their leadership is a sacred responsibility, cautioning that on the Day of Judgment, each will stand alone, accountable for their actions. “Like one of the speakers said, Allah will ask all of us what we did with the leadership He gave us on earth. On that day, you will be on your own; nobody will be there for you. No deputy governor will be there for the governor, no special adviser or SSG will be there. You are on your own, as I always say. All of us will be on our own,” he emphasized.

Reflecting on the region’s challenges, the Sultan noted that “the North faces many problems and challenges—not only a lack of knowledge about climate change but also poverty, insecurity in the north known for progress and peace in the past.” He argued that unity is critical for overcoming these obstacles, adding, “If we are united, we can face any challenge. If we are united, we will definitely create a better and more prosperous community.”

The conference, organized by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in partnership with International Alert, gathered various leaders to address the impact of climate change on conflicts in Northern Nigeria.