Taraba Islamic preachers call on Sheikh Sokoto to revoke statement
The Forum of Islamic Preachers Association of Nigeria, Taraba State chapter on Monday, expressed dismay over a comment made by a prominent Islamic Cleric, Sheikh, Professor Mansur Sokoto, alleging that “Islam will be endangered if Taraba falls to Non-Muslim Governor.”
The State Chairman of the Forum, Mallam Useini Isma’il, was reacting during a press briefing in Jalingo to the recently viral video going round the social media that was released by the Sheikh.
The Chairman who quoted some verses from the Holy Qur’an said “ALLAH says if you don’t know something, find out from those that know it, and I want Sheikh Sokoto to tell me where in the Holy Qur’an ALLAH said He will only give power to the Muslim. ALLAH said power belongs to Me, and I give it to whom I want and at the time I wished.
“So, I wonder why some religious Scholars will be making statements or commenting on an affair of the state that they are not living in without thought verification from genuine sources. I so much believe Sheik Mansur Sokoto must have been misguided by some enemies of peace, and if it was he, himself who did research and made that comment, I challenged his knowledge.
“If Sheik Sokoto was reacting to the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal that dismissed the petition filed by the Governorship Candidate of the NNPP, Prof. Sani Yahaya against the election of Dr. Agbu Kefas as the validly elected Governor, he is also wrong because it was the majority of us both the Muslims and the Christians, even the ideal worshipers we massively gave him our mandate, and he won the election, and he is a Governor for all because as am speaking with you, there is no single Request letter from any Islamic organization that Governor Kefas did not approve since he assumed office.
“Just recently, Governor Agbu Kefas gave millions of naira and was shared with various Islamic groups across the sixteen (16) LGAs of Taraba State for them to celebrate Eid-el Maulud. In addition, there was a day he was passing and noticed the condition of the Government House mosque, the governor stopped and entered where he asked the committee of the Mosque to write whatever it needed, which he approved.
“Today go and see how the Mosque is looking. Is this kind of gesture that you will call “Islam is endangered? Islam and Muslims are not endangered in Taraba State, we are living peacefully with our Christian counterparts, even with the idol worshipers because as I said, Taraba is a mini Nigeria because we have all types of ethnic groups where you will find father a Muslim and the Mother is a Christian or vise versa, and in most families, you can see that we are mixed, and we are living as one,” Isma’il added.
Isma’il also revealed that about 800 mosques were built by the past and present administrations under the leadership of the Christian faithful, besides the yearly sponsoring a large number of Muslim Ummah to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
“Three (3) days in office, Governor Kefas sponsored about two hundred Muslims including the team of Amirul Hajj, Medical team, and the Ulamas (Those that are teaching intending pilgrims how to perform Hajj) from home, Taraba to the Holy Land, and the Governor also sent a happy Sallah to the Taraba pilgrims while they were in Saudi Arabia which I believe those from Sokoto State are not enjoying this kind of gesture.
“Governor Kefas declared free education without discrimination, slashed tuition fees for the students of Taraba State University as well as the College of Nursing and Midwifery Jalingo all to fifty percent without discrimination. Go and see the ongoing project at the Taraba College of Nursing which the present administration is doing, so, why all these things Sheik Mansur Sokoto could not talk about them? Where and how Islam or Muslims are endangered? Mallam Isma’il challenged.
The Taraba State Chairman of the Islamic Preachers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Useini Isma’il, however, appealed to the people of the state, especially the Muslim Ummah to disregard the comment of Sheik Mansur Sokoto and maintain their cordial relationship with their Christian faithful, while he urged religion Scholars to always avoid utterances that could lead to disharmony among the people, therefore, am calling on Sheik Mansur Sokoto to come out and withdraw his comment.
“Here in Taraba State, we also have a forum where we used to hold meetings with Pastors, Imams, and Reverends and all we are always discussing is how to maintain our relative peace and tolerance. Governor Kefas is putting in his best also in the aspect of security, therefore, we have nothing to tell him than to continue praying for him and his cabinet which he also involved Muslims as Commissioners,” Mallam Isma’il concluded.
