Chief Imam urges Nigerians to coexist peacefully

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Chief Imam of Uyo Central Mosque, Alhaji Bello Tahiru, has urged Nigerians to coexist peacefully regardless of their religious and ethnic differences.

Tahiru said this after the Eid-el-Kabir prayers on Tuesday in Uyo to herald the 2021 Sallah celebration.

The chief imam stated that development would elude Nigeria if the citizens did not stay in peace with one another.

Tahiru urged all Muslim faithful and 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.

He said that the prayer they offered was signs of sacrifice, obedience, and loyalty to the wish of Allah.

“Today is a day of prayer and we have used the opportunity to pray for our country.

“Our country is passing through very difficult and trial period. There is insecurity in various parts of this country, we used today’s opportunity to pray, so that Allah will bring peace.

“Allah will grant us peace and touch the heart of those making trouble to sheath their sword because of prayers of today. So that peace, prosperity and security will reign in our country.

“We pray for our leaders, that Allah give them the wisdom to lead this country aright.

“We pray Allah to grant us peace and unity because without peace and unity there will be no progress.

“With peace and unity, we will be able to go on with our businesses. We pray God to bind us together as one nation,” Tahiru said.

He called on all faithful to be obedient to constituted authority, especially the host community.

Also speaking, the Head of Hausa Community in Akwa Ibom, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, called on all Muslims to remain faithful and embrace the ideology of past leaders.

He urged faithful to respect constituted authority, respect the authority of host community, and stay in peace.

In his remarks, Mr Emmanuel Ogbole, Special Assistant to the Governor on Projects Monitoring, thanked Gov. Udom Emmanuel for the gift of bags of rice and ram for the Moslem faithful to celebrate their sallah.

Ogbole, who presented the items to the faithful on behalf of the governor, urged the people to support the state government programmes and stay in peace with one another.

“These items you have seen, numbers of Ram and bags of rice are from His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, these are the items he has given to us to celebrate the eid el kabir.

“On behalf of the Arewa Community in the state, I am saying thank you sir,” Ogbole said.