Nigerian netizens – Muslims and non-Muslims alike, have continued to condemn the media onslaught by ‘Obidients’ against the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, calling it indecent and immature.
Obidients are supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.
The Obidients had launched an attack spree on the Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, for dissociating himself from a fake news of endorsing the candidacy of Obi.
They took to various social media platforms to call the Sultan unprintable names (which Muslim News will not represent here), and even laying curse on him.
Following this development, netizens have cautioned the Obidients and urged their candidate, Peter Obi to warn them.
The netizens include both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
“His Eminence, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, isn’t just the Sultan of Sokoto but the leader of the over 90m Nigerian Muslims. It’s highly uncalled for to smear his person just because he denied endorsing a candidate. He’s not a politician. Support your candidate(s) with utmost civility,” the medium posted on Twitter.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode (a Christian), said attempts by Peter Obi’s supporters to drag the Sultan into their politics of endorsement insult the sensibilities of people.
According to him, “Nothing is more indicative of desperation than the attempt by Peter and his Obidients to give the impression that His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto supports them. Such vainglorious falsehood insults our sensibilities. Peter’s delusions & lust for power may have driven him insane.”
The condemnations have also been coming from both Northerners and Southerners alike.
“As a Southerner and also a Muslim, I won’t tolerate any abuse or insult on the Sultan of Sokoto. He’s our Leader in Nigeria and it’d be unfair to start laying curse on him because he denied endorsing your candidate.
“Please be guided,” a tweet by a user identified as Alhaji Mobola Atanda read in part.
A Northerner identified simply as Malik on Twitter echoed similar sentiments with the earlier quoted Southerner.
He wrote almost the same way, “As a northerner and also a Muslim, I won’t tolerate any abuse or insult on the Sultan of Sokoto.
“He’s our Amir, and it’d be unfair to start laying curse on him because he denied endorsing your candidate.
“Please let’s be guided.”
Other comments condemning the onslaught against the Sultan by Obidients include:
“Insulting people who don’t support your candidate is an evidence of immaturity and indecency. It is absurd and stinking.
“How on earth would you attack the Sultan of Sokoto for dissociating himself from the lies that he endorsed Mr. Peter Obi?
“You guys should take it easy, please,” a Twitter user Major General Buhari Olayinka noted.
“Peter Obi and supporters launch online attacks on the Sultan of Sokoto.
“The election should be about promoting one’s choice without attacking respected and notable individuals because they are indifferent or not supporting your candidate. This is an insult to the entire North,” another user wrote.
