Nigeria Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has given Muslim scholars the task of preaching peace during and after the forthcoming general elections in the country.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting organized for Muslim preachers, Imams and Islamiya school teachers from across the North-western zone of the country, Namadi Sambo stressed the important role Muslim scholars play in shaping the moral values of the Muslim Ummah.
The Town Hall meeting was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Islamic Affairs, in collaboration with Coalition of Islamic Organization of Nigeria, and held today at the Umar Yar’ Adua Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.
He remided the scholars the need for them to continue to imbibe the fear of God in the minds of their followers, and for them to lead in accordance with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
He asked them to teach their followers the right kind of education and to sensitize them on the importance of peace and peaceful coexistence as well as respect for the law and authority of the State.
Vice President Sambo reminded them too that Islam is peace even as he complained about the post election violence of 2011 in some parts of the country.
He said that a moral burden has been placed on parents, teachers and Ulamas to ensure that such needless incidences are prevented in the future, adding that violence of any form can never be a means of expressing grievances.
The Vice President appealed to the scholars to continue to assist government with prayers and positive counseling and to avoid inciting statements that are capable of breaching the peace.
“It should be noted that, by the teachings of our faith, we shall account for our deeds in the hereafter. I therefore admonish you to live by example always and to do good for the development of our dear country and humanity.”
In his speech, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State called on the people to be fair and just to their leaders. He asked them to always pray for the success of their leaders.
He called on the people to desist from spreading rumours that are capable of causing disaffection among the people even as he appealed to the scholars to guard their statements.
The governor said that his government would do everything possible to ensure that peace and tranquility prevailed at all times. [myad]
