Francis Sadhere
Chief Imam of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Delta State, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Bello has urged Nigerians to give peace a chance, noting that Christians and Muslims should live as one.
The Muslim cleric stated this yesterday at the Warri Central Mosque while delivering a public Lecture titled “Role of Leaders and Followers,” organized by the Nigerian Aid Group of Jama’atu Nasril Islam.
According to Alhaji Bello, peace was the only thing that can move the nation forward, especially now that we are approaching 2015, calling on politicians in the country not to see politics as a do or die affair.
He said, “We need peace in this country especially now that 2015 is around the corner. Some people are bent on politics of do or die. But it is not supposed to be so. Some politicians have said in their heart that if they are not there then nobody can be there. Anybody that God has picked should be allowed to rule. Whoever is chosen, whether he is a Christian or Muslim should be allowed to rule because he is not going to be there forever.”
The cleric, who is also the Secretary General, League of Imams in Delta State, noted that people have taken religion into politics, saying that politics and religion were two strange bedfellows.
“We have taken religion too far. Everything we do today we are involving religion and that is not good for our country. Christians and Muslims have been living together for a very long time in this country and I do not see any reason why the situation should change. We should try and be our brother’s keeper. A good Muslim is that man that is friendly with his neighbour,” he said.
Alhaji Bello noted that leadership, according to Islamic teaching, was a trust given to a person, adding that the person must account for his stewardship to the people at all times.
He said a good leader is that person that has the fear of God and was concerned about the welfare of his followers, stressing that, “the problem we have in this country is that the moment we assumed power, we think that we know better than every other person.”
The Muslim cleric, therefore, called on Nigerians not to vote anybody who wants to grab power by all means into power, opining that people who want power by all means were doing so for selfish reasons and not for the general good of the people.
Earlier, the Delta State Chairman of Nigerian Aid Group of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa, said the group was formed to promote patriotism, social justice, clean politics and political utterances, unity and harmony among citizens irrespective of religion or ethnic discrepancies.
He said the group was also established to offer first aid and humanitarian services to pilgrims during Hajj operations at home and the holy land and other public gathering irrespective of any social political, religious, or ethnic affiliations.
He said, “This Islamic Action Aid Group will make presentations, recommendation to government, statutory bodies and other appropriate institutions at local, state and national levels. It will also partner with national and international NGOs on matters affecting the girl child education, security, human trafficking, disaster, health, social welfare, child labour, domestic conflict/violence, drug abuse, corruption, good citizenship, peace and unity among people.”
Also speaking to our correspondent, the State Director/Commander of the group, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, said they were going to work hard to ensure that they fulfilled the aims and objectives of the group in the state.
