On Tuesday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar III, said the various ethnic and interest groups in the country can co-exist peacefully if there is justice. He spoke during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Nsukka Socio-Cultural zone.
Abubakar regretted that contemporary Nigerians had failed to build on the foundation laid by the country’s founding fathers.
He said that there were more cohesion and integration between preceding generations than the new generation.
The sultan attributed the seeming mistrust among Nigerians to misinformation and ignorance.
“We have refused to come together as a nation due to ignorance and suspicion. Our visit here is to strengthen relationships, having started my youthful life in Nsukka 39 years ago.
“My coming here is at the right time, considering the loss of lives due to insecurity in parts of the country.” He said
Abubakar said that no Nigerian would aim at killing an Igbo man in any part of the country for whatever reason, adding that they were only targeted because of their hard work.
“Nobody in the Northern part of the country has been aiming at an Igbo man to kill. Miscreants target them because they are the most industrious and the people that move the economy.
“That is why their shops and other businesses are mostly the target during civil unrest because the hoodlums are sure to find valuables in the shops.” He said
The Sultan said that he was overwhelmed at the love shown him by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and residents of the state.
“As Nigerians we can be the best of families if we want to.” He said
Abubakar challenged the three tiers of government to investigate how suspected herdsmen and other Nigerians acquire AK 47 and other arms and ammunition.
“They have always asked us how the herdsmen acquired these ammunition, but I throw the question back to the politicians; find out how people acquire the guns.
“Find out how the herdsmen that move with AK47 riffles acquire them.” He said
Abubakar said that Nigerians had the option to live as one united family, adding that such visits would continue to strengthen the ties between the peoples of the country.
The Sultan, who is on a three day visit to Enugu State inaugurated road projects executed by the state government in Enugu and Nsukka.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
