Amosun, Adegbite Warn Muslims Against Violence

The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Secretary-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite,  have  warned Muslims in the country to steer clear of violence so as not to be  linked with crimes.

The duo  stated this yesterday in Abeokuta, during the celebration of the 1433 new Hijrah muslim year organised by the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, NACOMYO, Ogun State chapter.

Adegbite urged Muslims throughout  the country to imbibe the teachings of Hijrah, which denotes tolerance and peace, saying that Boko Haram has  wrongly portrayed  Muslims as agents of violence and destabilisation.

Adegbite who was represented by  the secretary, NSCIA, Ogun State chapter, Alhaji  Abdul Salam Abdul Fatai, said: “As we celebrate the new Hijrah, we should avoid any form of violence and discourage the killing of human beings in the name of anything. The issue of Boko Haram is giving Islam a bad name, we must steer clear of anything that would tarnish the image of our religion,”

Also speaking at  the event,  the  state governor represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, urged  Muslims to shun vices to virtues, and maintain peace for the good of the state.

He further admonished Muslim faithful to serve as role  models to others in the society, saying that Hijrah represented triumph over evil acts.

“We must remember that Hijrah is movement from defeat to victory, from vices to virtues, from unrighteousness to righteousness and from sorrow to joy  among others. We can’t live in isolation, we must live in peace with others, because together, we are all citizens of the state,” Amosun said, while calling on the people to be patient  with the state government in the execution of its programmes .

In his welcome address, the state Coordinator, NACOMYO, Alhaji Kamaldeen Kolade Otukoya,  noted that Boko Haram insurgency in the country is a threat to national security.

He, however, challenged all security agencies in the country to  be alive to their responsibilities in eradicating the activities of the sect and other  militant groups.

While condemning the activities of Boko Haram, Otukoya said: “We hereby condemn in its entirety all the activities of the so called Boko Haram and we wish to state that it is anti-Islam. The Boko Haram insurgency  is a threat to national security. Hence, all concerned security agencies must as a matter of fact, beef up intelligence to curb the dastardly act”, he submitted.

The guest lecturer of the occasion, Dr Musbau Jinaid, who spoke on the topic, “Islam and cultural accommodation of political change”, submitted that religious leaders in the country must assist the government to check  the insurgence of Boko Haram.

He attributed  the insurgency of Boko Haram to  high rate of unemployment in the country, urging the government to reduce crimes rates through employment creation.

— Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Ogun State