By Oboh Linus, Lafia
Nasarawa State Government has tasked religious leaders on peace-building and religious tolerance to sustain the peace mission of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration.
Dr Labaran Magaji, Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, gave this charge while receiving the leadership of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Nasarawa State Branch, in his Office in Lafia.
The State Scribe also enjoined religious leaders and the followers, as well as citizens, to support the administration of Gov Sule to sustain peace in the state.
He disclosed that the state Government under the leadership of Governor Sule has taken decisive actions to tackle pockets of criminality engaged by unscrupulous elements to be apprehended and brought to book.
“As a religious leader, you have a responsibility to continue to preach peace and tolerance. If God wants to make all of us Muslims, he has a way of doing it, but he chooses to make us different tribes, religions, and he said he did this for ease of identification.
“All these developments, such as the state-of-the-art secretariat, flyover and underpass, dualised Shendam Road, and sundry development, were achieved because of peace.
“So, there’s no basis for us to hate one another, fighting one another. It’s about tolerance. And this is what Gov Sule stands for. So, we should support him in this mission,” he appealed.
Magaji thanked the Ansar-Ud-Deen
Society for the visit and support of the government of Nasarawa State under the leadership of Gov Sule and promised to channel their demands to the appropriate authority for consideration.
“Ansar-Ud-Deen is a religious organisation that commands respect all across, given the purpose for which it was established, as listed by the chairman, very peaceful, organised, and very caring.
“I have listened to some of your demands. Let me say that all the demands you have mentioned are very fair; however, there are things that I cannot sit here and conclude by giving you any assurance.
“But there can hardly be any situation where issues of all that you have mentioned will be discussed, that I will not be there. If I’m there, be assured that I will speak in favour of Ansar-Ud-Deen,” he assured.
Alhaji Shehu Tijanni-Jimoh, Chairman, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Lafia Branch, Nasarawa State, said they were in his Office on a familiarisation visit, and also congratulated him on his well-deserved appointment.
He said that the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, whose existence in Nasarawa State spanned three decades, was fully and always identified with the Nasarawa State Government of the day and participated in elections.
“Today, we come to you on a familiarisation visit and to plead with you to carry us along. Ansar-Ud-Deen, in many states of the federation whatever they are doing, especially activities related to the Islamic religion like Hajj, are being carried along.
“So, we are appealing to you to consider the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society to be included in religious activities in Nasarawa State,” he pleaded.
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