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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar III has appealed to businessmen/women, traders and other services provided across the country not to use the Ramadan fasting period to hike prices in order to make things difficult for people particularly Muslims.
The Sultan who is the President General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) also said that the present economic situation in the country should not be the reason for hiking of prices during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Sa’ad Abubakar was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 36th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Bauchi on Saturday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
He encouraged Muslims in the country to continue to tread the path of peace in order to promote peaceful coexistence irrespective of religious differences across the country as well as pray for the leaders of the country.
In his address, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulƙadir Muhammad said that his administration will take full scholarship responsibility of the winners of the Qur’anic Recitation hosted by the State government.
The Governor announced a donation of the sum of N10m to the winners of the competition as well as the sum of N5m to all the judges as a means of appreciation for what they did during the competition as well as to serve as incentives to do more next time.
Bala Muhammad further said that hosting the competition in Bauchi was a positive recognition and honour for hus administration and the entire People of the state.
He commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III who is the President General of NSCIA for his untiring efforts at seeing that Islam took its rightful position as a religion in the country as well as the leadership that has continued to ensure success of the Recitation Competition over the years.
He used the medium to call on the Qur’anic reciters to use the messages contained in the Qur’an and offer prayers of peace and peaceful co-existence among Nigerian Citizens as well as improved economic development of the country.
Bala Muhammad also commended the management of Usmanu Ɗan Fodiyo University, Sokoto for organizing the Qur’anic Recitation Competition calling on Islamic Clerics to intensify efforts in educating the citizens on good virtues in order to escape the wrath of Allah.
The Governor also commended the courage of the youngest competitor, Amina Idris Muhammad from Cross River state, said that hus administration will take up full scholarship responsibility of her education as well as support her for a better life to enable her concentrate on the reciting the Holy Qur’an.
Abba Sanyinna Goni Muktar from Borno state emerged the winner in the male category while Haulatu Aminu Ishaq from Zamfara state emerged winner in the female category. They were presented with cash gifts of N3m each by the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Saad Abubakar III just as the Committee of the competition gave them N2m each. There were other donors of cash and other gifts to the winners.
