The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, on Wednesday raised the alarm about the situation in the country, saying “Nigeria is in danger” and that “things are not okay.”
The prominent traditional ruler said, particularly in the North, opportunities are disappearing fast and the country itself is gradually grinding to a halt.
He spoke at the sixth executive meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
“We must find jobs for our teeming youths that are sitting idle and I have said it so many times, we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder, having teeming youths millions of them, without jobs, without food, we are looking for trouble,” he said.
He lamented that the two monsters confronting the nation at the moment are poverty and insecurity which if not tackled urgently, could spell doom for Nigeria.
On insecurity and poverty in the North, the monarch said the traditional leaders, being closest to the people, have had the onerous task of calming down nerves, assuring the people that things would be okay.
He said, “We have entered into a new cycle of leadership, some new Governors have come on board, while some are having their second term and still we are faced with these insecurity issues.
“To make matters worse, we are faced with rising levels of poverty of most of our people; lack of normal sources of livelihood by the common man to have even a good meal a day.
“But, I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay.
“I have said it so many times and at so many fora that, things are not okay in Nigeria and of course, things are not okay in the North.
“What are the real issues bringing about poverty and rising cases of insecurity? I don’t think it is the issue of new government.”
The Sultan’s comments came amidst growing concerns over the health of the Nigerian economy. There have been pockets of protests in different parts of the country with the central concern being the state of the economy, hunger and insecurity.
