President Bola Tinubu met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday, amid heightened diplomatic tensions following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks labeling Nigeria a country of “religious persecution and human rights abuses.” The closed-door discussion focused on *national unity, interfaith relations, and strategies to address the international backlash*.
The Sultan, accompanied by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, joined Tinubu for Juma’at prayers at the State House Mosque, where Imam Abdulwaheed Abubakar emphasized the need for peace and support for the government’s security efforts. This meeting follows Tinubu’s recent engagement with Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, part of his administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” prioritizing inclusivity and dialogue.
The federal government has rejected Trump’s claims, insisting Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and condemning the violence as affecting all faiths. Tinubu assured Nigerians the nation will “defeat terrorism” and engage diplomatically with global partners.
