Abuja (Vice President’s Office Report) – Nigeria’s Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has urged Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah to pray fervently for continued peace and tranquility in the country.
He made the call on Sunday May 25, 2014 in Abuja, when he spoke at the maiden edition of the National Prayer for Peace and Security, organised by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs at the National Mosque, Abuja.
Vice President Sambo inferred that prayer is a strong weapon against adversity, insisting on the commitment of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration to providing adequate security and ensuring the stability and unity of Nigeria. He also said that when any adverse situation befalls the Ummah in the time of Prophet Muhammad, their greatest weapon was resorting to prayers to seek for Allah’s intercession.
“We shall continue to organize prayers as frequently as possible and Allah SWT in his infinite mercy will answer our prayers in removing in totality the act of terrorism by the Boko Haram and all other vices in Nigeria. Let me at this juncture urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace and the unity of our dear country,” he noted.
He further called on the Muslim Ummah to promote the ideals of Islam by living according to the tenets of the religion, which promotes peace, good neighbourliness and kindness, saying Muslims should not allow the few disgruntled elements among them to portray Islam and Muslims in bad light. He appealed to Muslim clerics to apply modesty in their sermons and preaching, while admonishing adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet.
On the ongoing efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls, Vice President Sambo said that the government is working assiduously to support the efforts of the military by increasing their capacity in the search for the missing girls, intensifying security in the nation and strengthening the call for immediate release of the missing girls.
He expressed appreciation for the support from Nigeria’s neighbours, including: Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and other African countries in the fight against the scourge of terrorism in the country. He also commended the United Kingdom, France as well as the United States of America, China and all countries of the world that have been against the terrorism that is happening in Nigeria, Africa and the world in general.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal said that the National Assembly would do everything within its constitutional powers to support the government’s effort to fight terrorism.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar in his speech, stressed the importance of justice, equity and fairness to the maintenance of peace in every society. He urged Muslims, especially those in leadership positions to shun corruption and any act that affects the development of the country.
In the highlight of the occasion, prayers were offered by Muslim clerics from all over the country for continued peace, unity and the development of Nigeria. In attendance were the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, and Deputy Governors, members of the legislature, Ministers, royal fathers and Muslim faithful.
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