 has reaffirmed its unwavering confidence in the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, as President-General){kind=link}
The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has reaffirmed its unwavering confidence in the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), amid controversy surrounding the announcement of the 2026 Ramadan fast.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by its President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, and Executive Secretary, Professor Wole Abbas, MUSWEN cautioned against unilateral declarations of Ramadan commencement by individuals and groups acting outside the established and recognised moon-sighting process under the leadership of the NSCIA.
The body stressed that the authority to officially signal the beginning of Ramadan rests with the President-General of the NSCIA, in line with long-standing Islamic tradition and national religious coordination.
The statement comes against the backdrop of recent announcements by certain actors regarding the start date of the 2026 fasting period — a move MUSWEN described as disregard for due process.
Calling for unity among Muslims, particularly in the South West and across Nigeria, MUSWEN urged the faithful to “shun disunity and be wary of the antics of people who do not wish Islam and Muslims well.”
“Their agenda and design for Muslims in Nigeria, and indeed the world over, is divide and conquer. We must not fall into this trap,” the statement declared.
Quoting from the Qur’an, MUSWEN reminded Muslims of the divine injunction in Surah Al ‘Imran (3:103), urging believers to hold fast together to the Rope of Allah and avoid division.
As anticipation builds ahead of Ramadan 2026, MUSWEN’s message is clear: unity, discipline, and respect for established religious authority must guide the Ummah.
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