By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The General overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry Sabon Tasha kaduna state, north western Nigeria, Pastor (Dr) Yohanna Buru and some elders of the church have congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto on Mauled cerebration 2024.
They also congratulated Abubakar sa’ad 11, Sheick Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Sheik Ibrahim Yakubu Elzazzaky, Khalifa sunisi lamido sunusi, the leader of Tijjaniyya Islamic sect across West, North and East Africa, and sheick Halliru maraya on Maulud cerebration 2024.
Speaking, Pastor Buru said, he always attend maulud celebrations with church members to strengthened relationship and poster peace.
“Maulud celebration Provide Golding opportunity for Christians to Meet, interact, dialogue, mediate, discuss and exchange good Will messages to poster peace and unity with many imams and other Top Islamic scholars”, he said.
He added that they were at the stadium “this afternoon to Strengthens good relationships with Muslim our neighbors, the better ways toward promoting peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance among the adherence of the different faith base organization”.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, also explained why he celebrated Maulud with Muslims in the state and other neighbouring states and countries, during his remark.
According to him, there are Muslims that always join him at his church in December to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, adding that prophets Mohammed (PBUM) is for all mankind irrespective of tribe, culture, ethnicity, cultural and historical background
Buru who always delivered peace lectures at the largest Muslim gathering at kaduna, stadium emphasized the importance of peace, and unity between Christians and Muslims while calling on both Muslims and Christians to always live in harmony.
According to him, It’s important to participate in the maulud celebrations simply because prophets Mohammed is for all mankind irrespective of difference in tribe, regions, ethnicity, religion,culture, tradition, color, race, and continents.
While stressing that for the fast 14 years, various Muslim organization both in Nigeria and those in diaspora usually invite Christians to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, “and the aims to strengthens Christians and Muslim relationship for peace and unity in the country .and to exchange good will messages for peace
He said: “We must remember that we are created by One God, and we are the children’s of Adam and Eve, and we both have our holy scriptures (Bible and Qur’an) from One God which guided us on how to live in peace and harmony with each other.” he added.
Buru expressed worries over increase in security problems, saying daily bloodshed, banditry, kidnapping, attack and ethno-religious killings across the North which has affected the region badly in terms of access to education, agriculture, economy,tourism,sport, Entertainment and all sectors of human development.
“The church cannot forget the donation of 100 bibles by a Muslim woman Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani and the support she always gave to the widows and orphans at the church during Christmas and new year celebration.
“last year during Christmas service, which marked the birth of Jesus Christ, over a thousand of Muslims attended the Church Service in Kaduna to Foster Peace, Unity,love and forgiveness to strengthening relationships”, he said.
He said one thing to always remember is “We are one family under God and most therefore do every thing to promote harmony and learned various ways of tolerating each other for peace and the unity of the country”.
Responding one of the Islamic scholar at the stadium sheick and the Chief imam of Udawa community who is equally representing Jama’atul nasrul Islam kaduna state imam iliyasu husaine Emphasized on the need for peace and love among the adherence of the two religions.
He stressed the need for both Muslims and Christians to embrace the culture of forgiveness,tolerance and spread the message of love to all mankind, while commending Pastor Yohanna Buru and his team for visiting them to promote peace and harmony. He also said that they were with him last year at his church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Similarly, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim, Sarkin Gabas Tudun Wada, Kaduna expressed happiness over the large number of Muslim that participated in this year Maulud celebration, saying thousands of Muslims across the 23 local government of Kaduna state arrived at the stadium. “So many Islamic schools participated in the matching parade at the stadium to grass to occasion”, he said.
Also, representing the Islamic movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly Shiites, sheick Aliyu Turmizi expressed delight over the large number of Muslim that participated in this year maulid cerebration in kaduna state
He said, Maulid celebrations always bring Muslims from all part of the state to assemble themselves at the stadium, stressing that “they are happy seeing Christians joining them at the kaduna stadium to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)”.
He called on both Muslims and Christians to keep praying for peace and stability in the land.
