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Category: Religion

  • “Former SGF Attributes Northern Nigeria’s Poverty to Religious Intolerance and Ethnic Divides”

    “Former SGF Attributes Northern Nigeria’s Poverty to Religious Intolerance and Ethnic Divides”

    By Milcah Tanimu

    Religious intolerance and ethnicity are identified as fundamental factors contributing to poverty and discord in Northern Nigeria, according to former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed. Speaking at a dialogue session organized by the Arewa New Agenda, Ahmed emphasized the need for the region to address historical divisions and foster unity to overcome poverty. The forum, led by Senator Ahmad MoAllahyidi, highlighted the alarming rates of poverty, banditry, and kidnapping in the northern part of the country, urging President Bola Tinubu to address these challenges. Approximately 94 million out of Nigeria’s 218 million population live in extreme poverty, with 80% of this demographic located in the northern region.

  • Abuja arm of Knight of Saint Mulumba emerges

    Abuja arm of Knight of Saint Mulumba emerges


    By our correspondent


    History was made at the weekend when the Supreme Grand Knight ( SK) of the Knights of St. Mulumba inaugurated the youth arm of the Abuja Sub- Council of the honoured Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in grand style. 
    The event began with a concelebrated Mass led by Rev. Fr. (Prof) Moses Orhungur , the Abuja Metro Chaplain of the KSM.


    It would be recalled that the Abuja Sub Council of the Order is the mother Council of the KSM in Abuja , being the first Council to be inaugurated in 1990 and has given birth to 14 sub Councils in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) to date.
    The inauguration of the first Youths of St. Mulumba (YSM ) in the Abuja Metropolitan Council  ( Archdiocese) of Abuja makes it another trail blazing record in the Metro and is coming only after such a feat by Calabar and Lagos Metropolitan Councils in Nigeria.
    The inauguration of the YSM is in fulfilment of the vision of the Founder of the KSM ,  priest and Monk Rev. Fr.  Abraham Anselm Isaghome Ojefua before his death in 1988 that there should be the youth arm of the Order.
    Accordingly, the Calabar and Lagos Metropolitan Councils have pioneer the inauguration of the YSM in Nigeria, followed by the Abuja Metro Council  led by  the Abuja Sub- Council.


    Administering the oath of Membership of the YSM on the 38 successfully screened youths at the ceremony held at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro- Cathedral, Area 3 Garki Abuja , the Worthy Supreme   Knight ( SK) Sir. Diamond Ovuaraye reminded the youths that their admission to the Order now places an onerous task on their behaviours and conducts and urged them to remain spotless and be shining examples to other youths around to emulate.
    The Worthy SK represented by the Worthy  Deputy Supreme Knight ( DSK ) Sir. Dr. Charles Mbelede charged the Youths further : “ As Youths of St. Mulumba your honour and integrity is at stake. You have to measure it because your actions and inaction are now to be monitored. You are a light that has been lit for others to look at. You have to be very careful. I’m happy to note that two of your members before this inauguration have gotten wedded in the Church. You are boys and girls if integrity. Please don’t get pregnant out of wedlock. The YSM is not a place for you to come and befriend yourselves and disgrace the Order.”


    He posited that with the take- off the  YSM, the KSM can now sleep well because of the assurance of vibrant successors .
    Speaking on the occasion, the Worthy Metro Grand Knight ( MGK) Abuja Metro,  Sir Michael Mtomga Aule expressed happiness that the inauguration of the YSM was happening during his tenure . He assured the Supreme Knight that very shortly he will be back in Abuja again for the inauguration of another Sub Council’s chapter of the YSM.


    The Deputy Metro Grand Knight , Sir ( Dr ) Frank Odafen under whose tenure as the Worthy Grand Knight of the Abuja Sub – Council, the idea was given vibe to thanked God that after 5 years what was like a tall dream has become a reality.


    “ It is gratifying to note that what we dreamt about five years ago has found fulfillment today with this inauguration. We must  commend the current Worthy Deputy Grand Knight ( DGK) of the Abuja Sub- Council,  Sir Martin Dibang Achua for his untiring and committed efforts in seeing that this vision has seen the light of the day today. With this inauguration KSM in Abuja SubCouncil is now standing on a tripod. Namely: the Knights; Ladies and now the Youths. We are now complete,” Sir Odafen added.


    He also mentioned for acknowledgement the pioneering efforts of the Abuja Metro Grand Knights such as Sir Ignatius Adaji, Sir Clement Uganden; Lady Rebecca Uganden and Lady Naomi Agbali.


    The current Worthy Grand Knight of the Abuja Council , Sir David Igbazua Kpue ,expressing joy and fulfillment following the inauguration assured the youths of continuous mentoring and guidance to nuture them to maturity.
    He equally in a fit of happiness announced a waiver of membership fee and dues payment for one year for the two youth members who are now qualify to upgrade to the KSM by virtue of their marriage status and attainment of the ripe age for enlistment into the KSM.


    “The Executive of the Abuja Council has approved automatic membership of two of the YSM to be enlisted into the KSM . Their Dues for one year is going to be borne by the Exco. This is to reward them for their leadership and mobilization role in the formation of the YSM”, Kpue said.


    The two lucky youths are Brothers Chinonso Mbagaha and Ejike Cajetan.
    The Deputy Grand Knight of the Abuja Sub – Council who spearheaded the formation of the YSM, Sir Martin Dibang Achua expressed appreciation to the Supreme Council , the Metropolitan Council and the Abuja Sub- Council Exco for making their work come to fruition with the inauguration.He however appealed to Brothers and Sisters to continuously monitor and mentor the young lads to grow in the Catholic faith and the KSM Order.


    Some of the inaugurated YSM members expressed appreciation for the honour done them in the inauguration and expressed readiness to abide with the code of conduct of their Catholic Church and the KSM .


    According to the coordinator of the YSM, Bro. Nwaegbu Ebube  “I’m so excited and grateful to God for for having this day come through and  honour done us because we have laboured painstakingly for this Day. By the grace of God we have all pledged our 3 TS and there’s no looking back.”


    On his part, Bro. Ejike Cajetan said “I feel privileged because it is rare opportunity. We than the SK who spoke to us through the DSK today . He told us exactly what we expected to hear. We will try by the grace of God to be the light for others to see.”


    Also, sister Obieke Stella Maris said “I feel very excited to belong to this honored Order. I will try my best to be committed and live up to expectation.”


    In her speech, Sister Agber Phina said “I am very much excited because I have looked forward to this very day and opportunity . I’m thankful and grateful.”


    “Today is good day. We have been working for this day for a long time .we thank God it’s finally here. Congratulations to all of us”, she added.

  • Realm of Fire Evangelical Ministry holds 3rd Anniversary

    By Mike Oboh

    Realm of Fire Evangelical Ministry will hold its third anniversary from September 30th to October 4, 2020 in Abuja.

    The church stated that the theme of the programme is “Set that Altar on Fire” will take place at the church premises located at Jikwoyi Phase 1, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory and will see many men of God in attendance.

    According to Evang. Godwin William, the pastor in charge of the church, the programme which is holding as a church and convention will commence on September 30, with a lot of activities lined up to appreciate God for His grace upon the members of the church and the people in general.

    Evang. William said other notable men of God will join him on Saturday for the praise extravaganza where other churches musical groups along with the church choir will entertain to the glory of God.

    He said the event will be filled with favours and blessings from God as those in attendance will be blessed to the glory of God.

    He said the third anniversary which is coming at this time of COVID 19 pandemic, will be used to seek the hand of God in finding a solution to end the crisis.

    He noted that the glory of God has been with the church with all the positives from members hence it became necessary for its members to come out in their numbers to glorify God for His favours and blessings.

    The church leader also said that there will be impartation of knowledge of the word of God and enjoined the public to attend the programme.

  • Muslim pilgrims observe pandemic rules as downsized Hajj peaks

    Muslim pilgrims observe pandemic rules as downsized Hajj peaks

    Mask-wearing Muslim pilgrims gathered near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which was significantly curtailed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    A few thousand people are taking part, a fraction of the 2.5 million people who usually gather every year in the holy city of Mecca for Islam’s biggest gathering.

    This is the first time Saudi Arabia decided to drastically limit number of pilgrims at the Hajj in modern history.

    Clad in their traditional snow-white robes, the pilgrims wore protective face masks and observed distancing as they prayed inside al-Namirah Mosque in the area of Mount Arafat, around 20 km east of Mecca.

    The granite hill is the site where the prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon, around 14 centuries ago.

    A senior Saudi cleric urged the Muslims to show patience during the “tribulation” of the pandemic.

    “Among the traits of the faithful is to be patient over painful fates,” Abdullah al-Manea, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s highest Islamic body, said in a televised sermon marking the peak of the Hajj.

    “Life in this world is not without disasters. [But] tribulations, however large their scale may, will not continue forever. God’s mercy is larger,” he added in the sermon delivered in al-Namirah mosque.

    Live broadcasting of the ritual sermon showed mask-wearing pilgrims listening and praying using personal rugs as part of strict health precautions.

    Saudi authorities have also set up sterilized tents to accommodate pilgrims in Arafat, Saudi state television al-Ekhbariya reported.

    The pilgrims are to stay at Arafat until dusk on Thursday, spending the day praying and reciting the holy Koran.

    They ritually chant there for God to forgive their sins.

    The pilgrims will next head to the nearby area of Muzdalifah, where they would normally collect pebbles to use for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual in the desert valley of Mina, around 7 km north-east of Mecca.

    However, this year, Saudi authorities have given them sealed bags containing sanitized pebbles.

    On the following day, which marks the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha, the pilgrims will converge on Mina for the stoning ritual.

    The Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, is a mandatory duty for all Muslims once in a lifetime if they possess enough financial resources and are physically capable of undertaking the journey.

    During the Hajj, male pilgrims usually wear seamless pieces of white cloth, while women wear loose garments without make-up or jewelry.

    Their attire symbolizes abandoning worldly wealth and acknowledging equality.

    The pilgrimage takes place annually from the eighth to the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

    This year’s Hajj, which began on Wednesday, has been overshadowed by pandemic fears.

    Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, has limited the numbers of Muslims attending the five-day Hajj, confining it to Muslims already living inside the monarchy in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

    Ahead of the Hajj, pilgrims spent one week quarantined at home and another four days in isolation in Mecca, as part of measures imposed by authorities, according to the Ministry of Media.

    Face masks are mandatory, while buses transporting pilgrims between the different holy sites must be occupied at 50-per-cent capacity and pilgrims are only offered pre-packaged meals.

    This is the first time Saudi Arabia decided to drastically limit number of pilgrims at the Hajj in modern history. (dpa/NAN)

  • Ramadan: Cleric urges Muslims to pray for end of COVID-19

    Ramadan: Cleric urges Muslims to pray for end of COVID-19

    An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusha’u Abdullahi, has tasked Muslim faithful to use fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan for fervent prayers to ease hardship of COVID-19.

    Abdullahi gave the charge in Kaduna on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    According to him, the significance of prayers cannot be underestmated, hence the need for Muslims to pray harder to God to ease the hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the world.

    “Muslim faithful should seize the opportunity of the Ramadan fasting to pray harder, it is a critical time for Nigeria and the world at large.

    “This is also a critical time and period when Muslims should support one another, especially their neighbours, including non-Muslims who are in need of assistance,” he said.

    Abdullahi also advised Muslims to ensure the success of Ramadan by following the various health protocols and support all efforts for the elimination of the coronavirus.

    “As we fast and pray during this period, let’s keep in our minds that we too have an obligation as citizens to collectively work together to defeat this virus.

    “Achieving this goal will culminate into a victory for fasting and praying.

    ” Muslims should be innovative in crafting ways to help people who may not have a strong understanding of the Quran during this period,” he said.

    Abdullahi said that many underprivileged Muslims, who would normally go to mosques in anticipation of getting assistance, would be unable to do so during this Ramadan as the lockdown had affected worship places.

    “It is therefore incumbent upon us to share with these people by reaching out to them at their homes and other places.

    “Giving help is a core feature of Ramadan, fasting and praying against coronavirus and reaching out to the less fortunate should be hallmarks of this Ramadan,” he said. (NAN)

  • Lenten: Muslims, Christians strengthen relation in Kaduna

    Lenten: Muslims, Christians strengthen relation in Kaduna

    A large number of  Muslims in Kaduna stormed Pastor Yohanna Buru house with the aims of joining their Christian counterparts to break the lent fast in a bid to strengthen peaceful coexistence, religious tolerance and better understanding among the different faith-based organization. Speaking at the organized event, Pastor Yohanna Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory and Life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tashan, Kaduna state northwestern Nigeria, said it was aimed at promoting peacebuilding, interreligious dialogue,  and understanding among the multi-religious organization.

    Buru reiterated the need for religion harmony in the state in order to poster peace and economy status of the state He thanked Muslims for honouring the invitation to breakfast together and called on the media to always strive harder to promote peace related course within and outside the state the state so that efforts of good people and government could be appreciated “We must always remember that inter-religious dialogue is gaining momentum and importance at both national and international levels, ” “Inter-religious dialogue is perhaps more important in Nigeria than anywhere else, simply because Nigeria is the most populous country in the African continent, and it is moreover, a pluralistic and multi-religious society, which is mainly dominated by Islam and Christianity”

    “We must learn to forgive each other in places Christians and Muslims hurts each other to live in peace and unity.” The Christian clerics added  “For peace and understanding to be achieved, Muslims and Christians have to join hands and be their brothers’ keepers as that is the only way to salvage the country, but when the two major religions are at war with each other, no meaningful development can be achieved. He noted that  the aim of inviting the Muslims to break the fast with Christians is to promote peace and understanding among different faith organization with a view to addressing some religious misunderstandings between the two religions,” The significance of the Lent, including Ash Wednesday, was in reminding Christian faithful that they were made up of dust and that unto dust they must return, and hence should fast, pray, and forgive. “We must remember that we are from one family under God *Adams and eve*, and we both worship one God, believing in both Qur’an and Bible” Addressing the gathering, also  Mallam Rilwanu Abdullahi, the national chairman of Beyond the border of disability in Nigeria said they are here to join Christians in breaking fast with the aims of promoting unity among Good citizens of Nigeria Rilwani used the opportunity to call on the people of the state to embrace peaceful co-existence without been based on religion ground. He said, God has already joined us together and not by ours serves, it is therefore important to fear God and put away malicious intentions because it will not take us anywhere. Mallam Gamo Abdullahi is one the Barnawa youth leader in Kaduna state that represented his group to the breakfast He emphases on the importance of forgiveness among multi-religious organization while stressing on dialoguing as the way to end  crisis bedevilling peace stability in the state Evangelist  Jonathan  called on more Christians to used the lent period for peace stability in the country While appealing the wealthy individuals to support the needy at this period, so as to enabled have enough food throughout the lent season In her own message Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, an interfaith specialist in Nigeria has called on Christians all over the planet to used the 40 days fasting in praying for peace While emphasizing on Tolerance between Muslims and Christians, she also calls for the creation of institutes of comparative studies, so as to enabled citizens to learn to accommodate with anyone irrespective of his tribe, religion, culture.

  • Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano preach peace among muslims

    Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano preach peace among muslims

    Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the sultan of Sokoto, has enjoined muslims to be peaceful and refused to be provoked to take up arms to fight over any issue or comment made by anybody in the country.

    Abubakar III made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the 108th edition of Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) at IVC permanent site in Ogun State.

    The event was organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) B Zone.

    The Sultan who spoke on Islamic law and the Nigerian constitution, said: “We must not take up arm over any issue or anybody.

    “We must never try to fight, we must not enforce our rights on anything. But we as a leader, all of us as leaders, we will look at ways of getting our rights from the government.

    “So never be provoked; don’t let any comment or any report from anywhere provoke you into taking up arms to fight.

    “Why because that is what they want us to do to destabilise Nigeria. We will not destabilise Nigeria as muslims. We will walk as Islamic orders us to do.

    “And In-shaa Allah we will build a better Nigeria where muslims are allowed to wear hijab anywhere and at any time.”

    Abubakar III emphasised the need for muslims to remain calm over any issue concerning their faith.

    “Like I said ,Almighty Allah will protect His religion, He will protect the Qur’an, His book.

    “We will do our own part by remaining peaceful, by always abiding by the laws of our land.

    “We are always talking to our leaders, especially the political leaders, on what should be done and what ought not to be done,” the Sultan said.

    On his part, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, urged muslims to ensure that their wards get education.

    The first class traditional ruler said this would reduce illiteracy, poverty and social vices.

    He further admonished muslims on peace and unity to address various challenges facing them.

    Sanusi II urged them to recognise, identify and address the internal problems challenging them which had led to increased poverty and social vices.

    Also, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, enjoined those present at the event to take advantage of government initiative called ‘Better Education Service Delivery for All’ (BESDA) to reduce the number of out-of-school children in their communities.

    “Let us struggle to get 10 pupils from your neighbourhood, town and village back to classroom.

    “There is a programme now called BESDA, the federal government is spending so much on it, this is the best time to benefit because of tomorrow.

    “Where we are today is because we failed to harness the opportunity of yesterday.

    “There are opportunities to be taken today so that we can get the benefit of tomorrow,” Olaniyan said.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Qaasim Odedeji, the Coordinator MSSN B Zone, said the IVC programme was organised by past generations of the leadership of MSSN to confront the evil associated with environmental influence of relating with non-Muslims ,especially during their festivities.

    He said the festivities were intentionally designed to coincide with major school holidays.

    “The programme has always given muslim students the opportunity of occupying themselves with the activities that would improve their knowledge of Islam and their faith in Allah,” Odedeji said.

    He endorsed the position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the need to improve the status of Shariah through amendment of the relevant sections of the federal constitution.

    “The call for resignation of Chief Justice of Nigeria is laughable, unreasonable and unwarranted and a calculated attempt to intimidate CJN.

    “The Nigerian legal system which the CJN presides over is not limited to Nigerian legislations, it also contains provisions of Islamic personal law,” he said.

    The theme of the event was entitled ‘Unification’. (NAN)