The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III has agreed to partner with ECOWAS on initiatives for sustainable regional peace and security through the involvement of religious and traditional rulers in peace processes.
Responding to remarks by the President of the ECOWAS Commission His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, who paid him a courtesy visit at his Sokoto Palace on 20th January 2015, the Sultan assured the ECOWAS chief of his full support and commitment to peace and security as a prerequisite for economic development in the region.
The Sultan, who is the Supreme head of Muslim faithful in Nigeria, had served for more than four years as Military Liaison Officer to ECOWAS in the early 90s during the Liberian crisis which was resolved through the region's peace efforts.
He urged ECOWAS to review its Conflict Prevention Framework to involve religious and traditional rulers, and also to intensify measures at curbing the proliferation of small arms in the region.
President Ouédraogo had solicited the Sultan's support to ECOWAS' tireless peace and security efforts and the fight against insurgency in northern Nigeria.
He also informed him of the Commission's plan to convene later this year, a regional meeting involving religious and traditional leaders as part of efforts to engender citizen participation and ownership of the ECOWAS development and integration process consistent with the objectives of Vision 2020 for an ECOWAS of people.
The ECOWAS chief paid tributes to the Sultan for his continued support to the preservation of the rich tradition and history of the Sokoto Caliphate, which are of great importance not only to Nigeria but the entire region.
President Ouédraogo and his delegation also visited the Waziri Junaidu History and Cultural Centre, where the Director, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Idris briefed the team on the history of the Caliphate with its artifacts dating back hundreds of years.
The President's delegation on the visit included the ECOWAS Commissioners for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Education, Science and Culture, Dr. Jean-Pierre Ezin, and the Manager of the ECOWAS Peace Fund, Mr. Dieudonne Nikiema.
Directorate of Communication
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