President
Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saád Abubakar, and a
Maiduguri-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh are among those
listed as the world’s 50 most influential Muslim leaders.
It
added that the influence could be of a religious scholar directly
addressing Muslims and influencing their beliefs, ideas and behaviour,
or it could be a ruler shaping the socio-economic factors within which
people live their lives, or of artists shaping popular culture.
“The
first two examples also point to the fact that the lists, and
especially the Top 50, are dominated by religious scholars and heads of
state. Their dominant and lasting influence cannot be denied, especially
the rulers, who in many cases also appoint religious scholars to their
respective positions,” it said.
While
the publication listed the top 500 influential Muslim leaders, the
first part recognised the top 50 in which Messrs. Buhari, Abubakar and
Saleh appear.
President Buhari was listed as the Number 20, while the Sultan and Sheikh Saleh are listed as numbers 24 and 38 respectively.
In
a short citation, The Muslim 500 recognised Mr. Buhari’s past military
career, his anti-corruption credentials and his promise and subsequent
efforts to deal with the insurgent group, Boko Haram.
Reasons why they were recognized:
“President
Buhari was the first chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) and was the mastermind behind the construction of 20
oil depots throughout Nigeria, a project involving over 3200 kilometres
of pipelines,” the magazine said. “Both the Warri and Kaduna refineries
were built under his leadership. He also established the blueprints for
the country’s petro-chemical and liquefied natural gas programmes”.
On
environment, it said Mr. Buhari is “an active environmentalist who has
drafted several plans to preserve wildlife in Nigeria. He has also
exerted great efforts on the conservation of nature in Nigeria; such as
controlling the logging industry whereby he has ensured that double the
number of trees felled are replaced by loggers. He has also worked on
restricting the Ecological Fund Office so it can deliver on
environmental challenges”.
Sultan Abubakar, the publication stated that he holds an
important administrative influence in Nigerian religious life.
“Abubakar
is the titular ruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria and is also the head
of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
Leadership of this council means that the Sultan of Sokoto remains the
only figure that can legitimately claim to speak on behalf of all
Nigerian Muslims.
“This
role has become increasingly influential over the years with a rise in
interreligious tensions between Nigeria’s Muslim majority north and
Christian-majority south,” it said.
The
Muslim 500 also said the Sultan has started many initiatives to counter
and reduce the influence of Boko Haram, including inviting an
international joint Muslim/Christian Delegation to visit Nigeria.
Sheikh Saleh, the publication recognised him as a lecturer in the
fields of Tafsir Al Qur’an (exegesis) and the Hadith as well as Islamic
sciences, jurisprudence and ethics.
“He
has over 100 written works. He has held and still heads several
significant positions, some of which are, founder and mentor of the
Islamic renaissance Organization, adviser to the Federal Government on
its Islamic Affairs since 1992, Assistant Secretary-general for African
Affairs in the World Islamic People’s Leadership 1989 and many more”.
Source: Vanguard
