Yesterday, at the Central Mosque in Awka, Sarkin Hausa in Awka, Haruna Garuba, and Gidado Sidikki, Deputy National Director-General of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), urged Nigerians to work together for peaceful coexistence in the state and country at large.
This call was made after their Eid prayers, which marked the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Haruna Garuba encouraged the Muslim community in the state to use the celebration as an opportunity to reflect and pray for peace and harmony in Nigeria. He specifically urged his Muslim brothers in Anambra State to pray for the country and the state, seeking sustained peace.
He also emphasized the importance of praying for the Governor of the state, Chukwuma Soludo, and the people of the state.
Furthermore, Haruna Garuba encouraged Muslims to use the Sallah celebration as a chance to visit their Christian brothers and the leadership in Awka, as well as their friends in the state who are not Muslims.
He emphasized the need for building bridges and fostering harmony, saying, “We need to visit our Christian brothers and the leadership of our host communities because we are living peacefully with them.”
Gidado Sidikki, who is also a Chieftain of MACBAN in the South East zone, urged his Fulani brothers in the state to live in harmony with their host communities.
He explained the significance of Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid al-Kabir, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il as an act of obedience to Allah. He emphasized that Muslims traditionally sacrifice a ram on this day as a symbol of submission to Allah.
Sidikki acknowledged the challenges faced by the Fulani community, including losses due to attacks and insurgency, but emphasized that insecurity affects every region, not just the South East.
He urged his fellow residents of the South East to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the peaceful coexistence they have enjoyed with their host communities and instead foster unity and harmony amongst themselves and with their hosts.
He also appealed to the government, traditional authorities, and other institutions in the South East to treat the Fulani community equitably, recognizing them as their constituents deserving of fair treatment.
Additionally, Sidikki urged religious leaders of all faiths to acknowledge their role as custodians of peace and refrain from making inflammatory statements that could disrupt social harmony.
