THE Sultan of Sokoto , Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said yesterday in Ado Ekiti that Muslim youths must begin to shun membership of terror groups as violence has no place in Islam.
Besides, Muslims should make it a point of duty to fish out the bad elements in their midst.
The spiritual head of the Nigerian Muslim community spoke at the turbaning of the Grand Imam of Ekiti State, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, as the President General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta states.
Abubakar urged Sheikh Kewulere to galvanize other Islamic clerics to work together to preach against terror which is giving Islam a bad name.
The Sultan said, “We know what Islam is presently facing most especially the issue of terrorism, we know this is not an Islamic agenda and the biggest challenge facing the (new) President General is to bring all Imams, Alfas and Ulamas to brainstorm on how we can stop our children from participating in anti-Islamic activities.
“As teachers in Islamic studies, we want you to teach our children what Islam is and what Islam is not. Imagine a 10-year-old involved in suicide bombing and killing, this has no place in Islam and has no basis in our religion.
“Fish out bad elements among Muslims and have them dealt with as criminals, we have to educate our children what Islam is and what Islam is not.
“If we know any bad person among us, let us fish them out. It is a big task no doubt, we must be united as Ummah because what binds us together is Islam.
“We must work together to bring our clerics together to tackle terrorism and extremism because this is unIslamic not only in Nigeria but in other parts of the world.”
The Sultan was particularly delighted at the presence at the event of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, who is a Christian.
Speaking shortly after his installation, Sheikh Kewulere paid tributes to all his predecessors and expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the League in all the eight states under his domain.
He promised to justify the confidence reposed in him and build on the foundation already laid to promote Islam and inter-religious harmony.
The Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus charged Kewulere, to see his new post as a trust from Allah and make the unity of Muslims a priority in the discharge of his duties.
Speaking through Senator Hamsat Bayo Salami who represented him at the event, Badmus said as the spiritual head of the Muslim in the South West, the office of President General requires that its occupant must be a promoter of peace and unity not only among the Muslims but in the whole of Nigeria and also work with Sultan of Sokoto on the promotion of peace and unity in the country.
Dignitaries at the event included Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose represented by his wife, Feyisetan; Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko represented by his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Revd. Felix Ajakaye; former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State, Alhaji Musa Ayeni; former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Sikiru Lawal,and the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh.
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