The Kebbi State Governor Senator Atiku Bagudu has made a passionate appeal to religious leaders to preach the gospel of peace and tolerance amongst people irrespective of their religious or ethnic background.
The Governor made the appeal while interacting with religious leaders from Council of Ulama and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Zuru Local Government Area.
In a statement by Bagudu’s Special Adviser on Media, Yahaya Sarki, Governor Bagudu told the the clerics that he found it imperative to meet them before he left for Birnin Kebbi in order to appreciate them for their continuous fervent prayers for peace and understanding amongst people.
‘ I came here to meet you particularly to appreciate what you are doing.
‘ Already I visited Fakai, Sakaba and Danko Wasagu, so I requested to have an audience with me . I want to seize this opportunity to thank you all on behalf of the entire state .
‘ I really appreciate your diligent efforts in praying for peace and urged you to continue to preach for peace , tolerance and understanding amongst the people’,
‘ We really need more sustained prayers and calls for unity in our society,’ he said.
He explained that the security challenge Kebbi was facing emanated from our neighboring states which spilled over to the state.
Bagudu also said the insecurity bedevilling Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria alone as other African countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali were facing security challenges as well.
The Governor reminded them of the effort of security agencies to address the obnoxious security situation in the country, calling on the men of God to also pray for the success of the all security agents in the country.
He reiterated his appeal for people to shun rumour mongering and the spread of fake news in our society, which according to him was detrimental to our peaceful co-existence and posing serious threat to operations of the security personnel.
Special prayers were held for the return of peace , tranquility and unity to Kebbi and Nigeria as a whole.
Sarkin Malamman Zuru, Alhaji AbdulRahman Hamza Balarabe and Liman Hussaini Zuru from the Muslim side anchored the prayers while from the Christian side Venerable Muhammed Magaji, Pastor Muhammed Marafa and Pastor Caleb Bakidi anchored the prayers .
The State Deputy Governor, Rtd Col. Samaila Yombe Dabai, Rtd General,Senator Muhammadu Magoro, Acting Head of Service Alhaji Sufyanu Garba Bena, Special Adviser on Security, rtd Major Garba Rabiu Kamba , APC State Chairman, Abubakar Kana Zuru, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs , Hon Hassan Muhammad Shalla, State House of Assembly member representing Fakai, Hon. Lawal Haruna Gebe, the Chairman of Zuru Local Government, Alhaji Bala Isah Gajere among others attended the meeting.
