The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has strongly admonished Nigerian Christians and Muslims to halt mutual insults and religious rivalry, emphasizing that peace is impossible without mutual respect.

Speaking at a public function in Abuja on Tuesday, the revered traditional and Islamic leader cautioned Nigerians against religious superiority complexes, stating that only God can determine who is better.

"We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims. Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we will live in peace," the Sultan stated. "We are not here to say we are better than anybody. We are not better than anybody. He [God] is the creator of us all. He will determine who is better."

The Sultan`s remarks follow a controversial statement by Islamic cleric Yahaya Jingir, who claimed Christians would have claimed superiority over Muslims if not for the country`s current Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Although the Sultan did not name the cleric, his address directly tackled the underlying friction, reinforcing that no religious group should consider itself superior to another.

He challenged citizens to revive the culture of neighborly love, regardless of faith or tribal background. "Allah created your neighbour for you. Whoever is your neighbour, you know what is required of you to do for your neighbour," he added.

Shifting his focus to civic responsibility, the apex Islamic leader condemned the rampant spread of misinformation and targeted vitriol on digital platforms. He warned that individuals who deliberately manufacture falsehoods against presidents, governors, lawmakers, and other public officers will ultimately account for their actions before God.

Instead of advocating for the disintegration of Nigeria, the Sultan charged citizens to channel their energy into fixing the nation`s foundational challenges.

To illustrate his message of interfaith harmony, he cited the heroic legacy of the late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who famously saved over 200 Christians by shielding them inside his mosque during a violent crisis in Plateau State. He described the late Imam`s actions as the ultimate standard of humanity that all Nigerians must emulate to preserve national peace.