Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has sued for more patience and understanding from residents with the present administration both at the state and federal levels.
The governor made the call when he received the Niger State Imams Forum led by its Chairman and Chief Imam of Minna Central Mosque, Imam Isah Fari, on a congratulatory visit.
Bago said the government is not unaware of the hardship being faced by the people but that it is for a better future for the country and the citizens.
The governor charged members of the Imams forum to always promote peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance in their sermons.
“We’ve called on them to also persevere with the government. A lot of transformation is going on and we need their cooperation in their sermons they should encourage unity and also perseverance and we are calling on them to pray for the state, to pray for the country so that we can get back on the path of prosperity.
“Faith is not in the mouth. It means you should also tolerate other faiths and once you have the tolerance to people’s faiths and you understand that it is not by your doing everybody has his ways and means of reaching out to his God then we will coexist peacefully,” the governor stated.
He further tasked them to assist in enlightening the people to avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste to achieve a clean and safe environment.
Bago also enjoined the Forum to support the policy thrust of the present administration and tasked them to continue to pray for leaders and a secure society.
He advocated that each state should be allowed to make accommodation arrangements for its intending pilgrims as against the centralized one made by the National Hajj Commission.
The governor reiterated that a better welfare arrangement and a befitting hajj camp will be constructed by the state government.
While assuring the people of his administration’s determination to provide good governance, the Governor directed all his appointees to always go back to their communities to observe Friday prayer so as to interact with them with a view to feeling their impulses.
The Chief Imam of Bosso Estate, Imam Umar Faruk Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the Forum, explained that their visit was to congratulate the governor on his assumption as the Governor of the state.
Abdullahi said the Forum which was formed 18 years ago comprises all the Muslim sects adding that its members are drawn from Chief Imams of Central Mosques in all the 25 local governments and eight emirates of the state.
He said the forum is mainly to unite the Imams as the custodians of Islam to avoid discrimination.
Abdullahi advised the governor to always be thankful to God for the privilege to serve, seek God’s help in leadership, be compassionate, fair, and just to all.
The Imam appreciated the state government for all the support given to the Forum thus far and assured that it will not relent in praying for the success of the present administration and for an end to all the security challenges in the state.
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