By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Members of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah has been told the significance of knowledge and taked to seek same to effectively strengthen their faith.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, gave this charge while delivering his Eid-ul-Fitr Message during an after-Eid prayer event at his palace arcade in Sokoto, on Wednesday 11th April 2024 equivalent to 1st Shawwal 1445AH.
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Sultan Abubakar also emphasised the importance of continuous prayers for leaders and the prosperity of the country by tge Muslim Ummah.
The NSCIA President General, who spoke in Hausa, said, “We should express gratitude to the Almighty Allah for granting us the gift of life and good health, allowing us to observe the 30 days of fasting and celebrate Eid-El-Fitr.
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“Today marks a significant day in Islam as Muslims worldwide commemorate the conclusion of Ramadan and the Eid-El-Fitr festivities.
“Moreover, let us perpetuate the spirit of compassion and support for one another, as demonstrated during the month of Ramadan, and extend assistance to those in need,” he appealed.
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Speaking at the gathering attended by Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto; Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Muhammad Gobir; former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako and other dignitaries, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar commended the state government for its commitment to collaborating with scholars of the Muslim Ummah and fostering unity.
He also praised the government’s ongoing efforts to support the less privileged, civil servants and ensure the security and progress of Sokoto State.
Homage
In the meantime, the Sultan has assured Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto of unflinching support of his Sultanate towards achieving successes in areas of development and empowerment programmes and activities of the Stare government.
He told the governor that whatever his government spent for the well-being of citizens in the state could not be too much and could not be counted as waste.
He, therefore, urged that the government should do more even as he promised the continued prayers of his Sultanate for the governor’s success and excelllent leadership excellent.
The Sultan advised the Minister of Water Resources to use the opportunity he has to provide adequate water supply for the Nigerians in the state.
Gov Ahmed Sokoto
After the arcade event, Governor Aliyu Sokoto paid the traditional Eid-ul-Fitr homage to the Sultan in his palace, during which he thanked the multifaceted leader for his unflinching support and encouragement for the state government under his watch.
The governor acknowledged the role the Sultan played in ensuring father-figure to all Sokoto State indigenes across all strata of life including those in business and playing politics in their respective political parties.
Governor Ahmed Sokoto’s major points of talk during the visit touched on efforts he was making to mitigate the current sufferings of Nigerians of his North Western state extractions.
While saluting and congratulating the Sultan on the successful observance of the 30 days Ramadan fasting just ended, the governor appreciated his leadership and cooperation with the state government in all areas of development.
Despite the economic hardship in the state and the county in general, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto was impressed at the commitment of the people towards the good of one another and the state as, according to him, they showed a kind of gratitude to Almighty Allah while coming out in their numbers to cerebrate Ed-ul-Fitr and doing so in peace and harmony.
He stated that very soon, his government would come out with programmes aimed at assisting the youth, vulnerable and unmarried women, men in the communities by helping them marry and get empowered to be proper persons.
The intervention in the marriage system, the governor said, was in a bid to reduce the number of unmarried persons in the communities.
Governor Aliyu added saying the “issue of insecurity is not only the responsibilities of Federal Government or State Government but also as a collective responsibility”.
To this end, he called for the cooperation and unity from people of the state, regardless of political affiliations, to support the ongoing fight against insecurity in the state.
Speaking in Hausa, he pointed out that “Bandits will not differentiate whether you are poor, rich, big or small, Muslims or non-Muslims” and therefore requested everyone to provide genuine and useful information about bandits or terrorists so as to assist the military and other security operatives in helping stamp out insecurity from the state.
Particularly, the governor called for inclusion in governance by which, accordingly to him, useful advice will now be welcomed from the Sokoto people on what should be done to improve the lives of the people and up their value system.
