By Francis Sadhere
As Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-el Kabir, Muslims in Delta State have sued for peaceful coexistence amongst one another, saying that without peace the nation cannot develop.
The Chief Imam of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA Mosque, Warri, Delta State, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Bello, who spoke to our correspondent at the NPA Mosque immediately after the sallah prayers, called on all Muslims and non-Muslims in the country to live in peace with one another, especially now that Nigeria is facing security challenges.
Alhaji Abdul-Azees said Islam is a religion of peace and that anybody who is causing insecurity in the name of Islam is not a Muslim, adding there was no religion in world that preaches violence.
He noted that for there to be meaningful development in any nation there must be peace in the nation, urging all to love their neighbor irrespective of their religious belief.
He prayed that God should exposed all those causing crisis in the country, and that everybody should tolerate one another as Nigeria is a multi-religious country.
“Muslims are peace loving people. Islam stands for peace because without peace there will be no development, happiness and rest of mind. So Islam calls for peace and Muslims are peaceful people. I enjoined all of us to continue in our peace and love for one another and by the special grace of Allah things will be made easy for us. With the challenges we are passing through today, if we have love for one another, all these things will be things of the past,” Alhaji Abdul-Azeez said.
The Deputy Chief Imam of NPA Mosque, Warri, Alhaji Ibrahim Isma’ila in his goodwill message also called for peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Christians and others, praying that God should expose all terrorists killing and maiming innocent Nigerians.
He said; “May God Almighty make us to be united and live with one another in harmony. May God Almighty disgrace all those killing innocent people here and there. God will expose whosoever is behind this insecurity challenges that we are facing in this country just as he dealt with king Pharaoh. We pray that God should bring peace to this country.”
Also speaking to our correspondent, Alhaji Sale Sale urged all Nigerians to learn how to tolerate one another and accept one another as they are, stressing that there is unity in diversity and that it was the diversity that has made us stronger.
“We are a multi-cultural and multi-religious people and in that case we are expecting that we should have tolerance among ourselves. We should accept ourselves the way we are. Nobody should think that his own opinion is superior than the other. Ours is a unity in diversity and we pray that Allah should restore peace to our country that is shattered with unnecessary and unscrupulous individuals that are creating bloodshed all over. Our prayer is to have a united nation, a nation full of tolerance and harmony,” says Alhaji Sale
Alhaji Ganiyu Olowafemi Saliu, while congratulating his fellow Muslim brothers, said Abraham is the father of all Muslims, Christians and Jews, calling on all to embrace each other and shun all forms of violence against one another.
He said; “Today celebration is a celebration that started many years ago when Prophet Abraham decided to sacrifice Isaac his son, following the commandment of God. But God replaced it with a ram for him. Abraham is believed to be the father of faith by Christians, Jews and Muslims and he has united the three religions. We are all serving one God. So we should embrace each other, we should love one another and shun all forms of violence and be happy with each other. We should be our brother’s keeper.”
Also speaking, Abdulmajid Abdulkadir called on other religious bodies to celebrate with the Muslims brothers saying that they are one.
He lamented the stigmatization meted out to the generality of the Muslims explaining that rather than labeling all Muslims as terrorists, people should join hands with them to fight the dreaded terrorists tearing the nation apart.
According to him; “Those people that are killing, maiming and destroying lives and property in the name of religion are not Muslims. There is no religion on earth that teaches that. We should try and pray together and fight these terrorists so that peace will return to our nation. We pray that God should expose all those that are behind these abnormalities,.”
On his part the Chairman JNI, AID, Delta State Chapter, Alhaji Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa who prayed for Delta State and Nigeria also prayed that good leaders should emerge from the forthcoming Delta State Local Government elections scheduled to hold October 25th, 2014.
He said; “We know our political office holder right from independent have failed us. Our problem is bad managers. When you give a man a job that he knows to do well he will do it right, I want to request the Muslims all over Delta State to pray for good leaders for the upcoming Chairmanship and Councilors election.”
“I want to appreciate Hon. Sunday Demi-Ejegi, APC aspirant Warri South Constituency 1, Hon. Sylvester Akpodiete, aspirant Udu, Ughelli South and North Federal Constituency and His Excellency, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor (OON) Governor in waiting of Delta State for identify with the Muslims during this time of Eid-ul-Al Adha celebration,” he added.
