Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has urged clerics and society leaders to use religion to further harmonious existence in Nigeria.
Governor Sani-Bello stated this at the Maulid anniversary of Shiek Ahmad Tijjani and N133, 548, 570 appeal launching for the establishment of Majma’u Islamic Model School Secretariat, Minna at the Justice Idris Legbo International Conference Centre, Minna.
Governor Sani-Bello said that clerics and other leaders have important role to play in ensuring that religious tolerance exist among the people.
He called on the clerics to preach against use of illicit drug by youth, saying that the rate at which the youths were engaged in illicit drug taking was alarming.
The Governor urged parents to “monitor the activities of their wards as it is their obligations to ensure that their children are well taken care of”, as he admonished the children to also respect their parents.
He said that parents must teach their children discipline and how to respect people.
He then made a donation N9m for the state government and a personal donation of N1.5m stressing that his administration has priority for education and as such will continue to support the education sector.
According to him, “Nigeria is a religious country and has so been recognised by other countries of the world”. Assuring that his administration will continue to support religious activities.
In the same vein, Governor Sani-Bello attended the closing ceremony of the National Qu’aranic Recitation Competition organized by the Directorate of Education, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wai’kamatis Sunnah, (JIBWIS) held at the UK Bello Arts Theatre, Minna.
He said that the youths must be encouraged to embrace recitation of the Qur’an as its reward were eternal.
The Governor then gave a cash reward of N500, 000 to the overall champion of the Qur’an recitation while the 2nd and 3rd placed went away with N300,000 and N100, 000 respectively. Promising that the cash prize reward would be maintained in subsequent editions.
He applauded JIBWIS for organising the event while promising the willingness of the state to host the 2019 edition.
