Muslims all over the country led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, gathered in Osogbo, Osun capital yesterday for a special prayer for the nation.

According to Vanguard, They also extended the prayers to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently abroad on medical vacation. This was as Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, observed that the economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.

 “Prayer for our nation for peace, security, stability and development” the event was organised in honour of Deputy President General (South) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola. The Sultan, while stressing the need to be fervent in prayer in this austere times, also called for the unity of the country and of the entire Muslim Ummah for the country to get out of the current economic downturn.



The Sultan also enjoined religious groups in the country to make prayer a daily routine as the country needs spiritual solutions to its peculiar challenges. During his courtesy call on the governor, the Sultan lauded Aregbesola for his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences.



The Sultan stressed the need for Muslims across the country to continue to demonstrate leadership by example as preached by the prophets. Aregbesola averred that it must sadden every Muslim to hear that a Muslim can kill himself or accept a suicide mission for the paltry some of N200.



 He argued that economy rather than religion is at the heart of insurgency in the northern part of the country. He therefore called on Muslim leaders to undertake the task of how to eradicate poverty in the land in other that terrorism could be uprooted once and for all. In his own remarks, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Isiaq Oloyede, said Islam can live with any other religions but Islam abhours injustice.



Oloyede said Aregbesola understands this very well that Islam commands everyone, particularly a leader of people to do justice to all manners of subjects irrespective of their religions. In his opening remark, the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musliu Smith, the prayer offered came at the most appropriate time given the present situation the country is in.





Photocredit: Naij