Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, President of the Nigeria Supreme Council On Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Sultan of Sokoto, has stressed the need for more political leaders in the country to come out openly to take the anti-COVID-19 vaccine to boost the confidence of ordinary Nigerians to accept and take the vaccine.
Speaking at the sensitisation meeting for Muslim Scholars and Imams on the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, organised by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Abuja, the Sultan insisted that all political office holders must take the vaccine first before the common man on the street because they are leaders and need to be strong to lead the country to a greater height.
He said: “We have seen Mr. President, the Vice President, and others publicly take the vaccine, we expect that more political leaders should come out openly and take the vaccine.
“I believe that if they do so, ordinary Nigerians will have confidence in the safety of the vaccine. All political leaders must take the vaccine first before the common man on the street because they are leaders and need to be strong to lead the country to a greater height.
He said though so many people do not believe that there is COVID-19, the pandemic is real and the danger is potent, adding: “There must be an understanding and consultation for any action to be taken to make a positive impact.”
The Islamic leader noted that there is still more confusion about the vaccines and the various conspiracy theories about them that even some advanced countries suspended the use of a certain vaccine, even as vaccination has been rolled out in some states, just as some states don’t even believe there is COVID-19.
The Sultan said even at that, the pandemic is real and the danger is potent and enjoined Muslim leaders to use the opportunity to ask questions and get the right answers that they would relay to their people.
“It is left for you, if you want to take the vaccine, we only advise you and appeal to you, like we did during the polio immunisation decades ago and today, we are polio-free.
“You play a critical role as leaders and people listen and believe in you, so be open.”
