Nigeria’s Woes are result of Leadership Failure – Islamic Leaders
By Ajayi Sodiq
Islamic leaders in Rivers State have blamed the underdevelopment and high level of poverty in Nigeria on greed and bad leadership.
They also called for an end to the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.
The Islamic clerics who spoke to newsmen at the just concluded Eidel Fitri prayers at the Port Harcourt Central Mosque, Niger Street, regretted the high level of poverty in the country despite the country’s enormous resources.
The Vice President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Awelegbe Uhor, condemned the lingering political crisis in the state, adding that, if not checked, the situation could derail development efforts.
Alhaji Uhor also stressed the need for the various political parties in the state to work with Governor Siminalaye Fubara to move the state forward.
He said Governor Fubara meant well for the state, adding that Rivers Muslims were beneficiaries of the policies and programmes of the current administration in the state.
Alhaji Uhor, who blamed the ravaging poverty in the country on greed, noted Nigeria has enough resources to make everybody rich.
He also said that Nigeria did not need to vote for any president based on religion, adding that Muslims and Christians had been ruling the country since independence and the situation had not changed.
Also speaking the leader of Rivers state Moslems, Alhaji Suleiman Akani, warned that Rivers Muslims would not tolerate any impeachment against Governor Fubara.
Alhaji Akani described Governor Fubara as one of the most Muslim-friendly governors since the creation of the state.
He said the governor had not neglected the Muslim community since the inception of his administration, stressing that some Muslim Ummah have been sponsored for pilgrimage by the administration.
He said, “Apart from Odili, this is the most Muslim-friendly governor. We Muslims have benefitted so much from the present administration in the state.”
On his part, the Chief Imam of the Port Harcourt Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdul Malik Yahaya, called on Nigerians to cultivate the virtue of love for one another, stressing that the message of Salah was about love for one another.
He also called on Muslims to show love, not only to fellow Muslims alone but to people of other faiths as well.
Meanwhile, the sole Administrator of the Rivers State Moslem Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdul Rasaq Diepriye, has commended Governor Fubara for being the first governor in the country to sponsor Muslims to the Hajj.
He said it was the first time Rivers Muslims had felt a sense of belonging in many years.
Alhaji Diepriye assured of the continuous support of the Muslim community to the administration.
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