By AbdulRaheem Aodu and Ojo Sola Olusegun
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has reiterated the need for the federal government to engage in dialogue with the Boko Haram sect noting that dialogue remains the best option to dispute resolution in the country.
He said this while declaring open the pre-Ramadan meeting and a national conference themed “Practical Steps in Uniting the Muslim Ummah,” organised by Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) at the weekend in Kaduna.
Tambuwal said any nation that strived for development needs the unity of its people which could only be achieved when there was avenue for discussions.
He promised his commitment to support the federal government in any course aimed at restoring peace in the country.
He said: “We are not fighting war with another country but within. Therefore dialogue is necessary. I have said this maybe three or four years ago and I’m still maintaining my ground that we need to dialogue and ensure that we bring back those that can be brought back and address any issue that needed to be addressed by the government with the possibility of resolving them because the idea of taking arms against the state will not solve the problem.”
Governor of Kebbi state, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, in his remarks, challenged Muslims to put into practice what they have learnt from the Qur’an,saying that by doing so, corruption and other social vices threatening the country would be eliminated.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, reminded the gathering that there was no alternative to peace, noting that every community, state, country need to eschew bitterness and embrace peace as the teaching of Holy Qur’an and Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him).
Vice President General of JNI, Ebonyi state, Sheikh Haroun Ogbonna Ajah, in his keynote address, said the quest for genuine unity of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah required the knowledge, fear of God and human moral quality that include commitment.
He said the major causes of disunity in Islam included the influence of western world and conspiracy theory, religion jurisprudence and attitude and behaviour of Muslim scholars.
He said: “To achieve total and genuine unity and restore the declining power and rights of the Nigerian Muslim ummah, leaders and followers including those in political power and authority must base their actions and behaviours on the Islamic injunctions.
“Our religion, Islam, our ummah, the Nigerian Muslim ummah inclusive will only prosper by what caused its prosperity at the very beginning. Muslims must unite to face our current national challenges such as poverty, marginalisation and other challenges.”