A political scientist and a lecturer at the University of Abuja, Kabiru Mato has called on Nigerian leaders not to disregard the comments of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar on the security in the North.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television's breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Mato said though modern politics in Nigeria has withered the powers of traditional leaders, but "the statement by the sultan should not be put aside by any serious minded political leadership because it is a statement that is coming out from one of the highest level of the Nigerian society."
The University don said the situation where Nigerian leaders accept responsibilities for the ills in the country is an indication of progress.

Mr Mato cautioned that "If the political leadership will choose to disregard this very honest and bold pronouncement by the sultan, it will do so at its own peril."
The Sultan had on Monday blamed the North for the present insecurity in the region.

He had said, "Let us sit and talk freely and articulate positions that will bring us out of the quagmire we put ourselves. It is important that religious and traditional rulers from our various states sit together, so that each and every one of us will talk freely for us to articulate a position as the way out of this problem we find ourselves.

"We northerners have put ourselves in a quagmire, because whatever that is happening in the North is our own doing. This was because we did not do what we are supposed to do. And since we know that, we have to solve our problems ourselves. So, I think, it is not a bad idea that the committee was set up."

More on This

Nigeria's Security Challenges Self-Inflicted?

• Speaking in Tongues
• We Are Cause of Our Problems in the North - Sultan
• Security Challenges Self-Inflicted, Says Sultan
• North Responsible for Its Woes - Sultan
• Sokoto State Is Not the Poorest - Bako
• VIDEO: Youth Leader Sustains Sultan's Comments on Insecurity
• VIDEO: We Are Responsible For Our Sufferings Sultan Tells Northerners
• Hail to the Sultan!

Nigerian Monarch Cautions Politicians

• Sultan Tasks Monarchs On Peaceful, Credible Polls
• All Is Not Well With Nigeria - Sultan
• Sultan Cautions Politicians Against Bitter Rivalry
• Play Politics With Decorum, Northern Traditional Rulers Tell Politicians