Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Chief Imam of Uyo Central Mosque, Alhaji Bello Tahiru Mohammed, has asked Nigerians, no matter their religious or ethnic differences to coexist in peace with one another.
Mohammed said this after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers on Thursday to mark the 2021 end of Ramadan.
The spiritual leader noted that development would elude Nigeria if the citizens do not stay in peace with one another.
He urged all Muslim faithful and indeed other religious members to continue to pray for Nigeria and its leaders for wisdom and protection to lead the nation to come out of the present security challenges.
“We call on all Muslims to continue with the steadfastness, the attitude they exhibit during the month of Ramadan, by abstaining from doing things that are not right, things that can harm fellow human beings.
“They should sustain the lessons learned during the Ramadan, by giving alms to the needy and have compassion to the less privileged.
“When you love your fellow human beings as you love yourself, that makes you a complete faithful,” Mohammed said.
The Chief Imam also urged Nigerian leaders and all those in position of authority to be fair, just and remained incorruptible while discharging their duties.
The cleric added that as religious leaders, they would continue to take the challenges confronting the nation to God in prayers, until the country witness the desire peace that used to be.
“People in position of authority should be fair, just and incorruptible. This attitude will bring peace in the country.
“We pray for peaceful coexistence among Muslims and non-Muslims because our religion teaches us to live in peace wherever we found ourselves.
“We pray for the unity of this country and the good health of our leaders and wisdom to lead this country aright with justice and fairness,” he said.
In his comments, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, Head of Hausa Community in Akwa Ibom, urged all Muslims to imbibe the spirit of oneness by living in peace with one another.
He appealed to Muslims to inculcate the spirit of Ramadan, live with perseverance and be accommodating to one another.
He thanked the host community for the peaceful coexistence between them over the years.
“My candid advice to Nigerians is to tolerate one another and live in peace as one,” Sadauki said.