THE Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) has called on Muslims and Christian leaders to foster peace and unity in ensuring that the 2019 general elections were conducted peacefully.
The National Chairman, Ulama’u Council, Sheikh Sani Jingir, made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the 2018 National Preaching session held in Misau, Bauchi State.
He said that the two religious faith leaders by their standing in the society have enormous responsibilities in ensuring that peace prevailed in their communities and pleaded with them to encourage their followers to avoid conflict and to promote peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections.
He added that: “We cannot afford to stay aloof or indifferent in this regard, politicians are part of your religion, and many of them actively seek your blessings and wise counsel for their political quests.”
The Islamic Cleric added that: “As religious leaders you are well-positioned, therefore, to influence them (adherents) towards conducting themselves with civility and decorum, as is necessary to ensure the prevalence of peace in the country, especially during and after the elections.”
Sani Jingir also called on Muslims to actively participate in politics because according to him, “politics is enshrined in religious activities, don’t relent in participation” just as he also appealed to Nigerians to vote for credible candidates during the elections warning politicians against supporting political thuggery.
The JIBWIS National leader also used the medium to appeal to Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) to liaise with President Muhammadu Buhari in order to find a lasting solution to the issue of the new National minimum wage.
He, however, called on Government at all levels to give special attention to Religious Education in view of its importance to societal reorientation and attributed increasing number of challenges facing the country to lack of government’s attention on religious education.
He said that if the government gives attention to the sector, it will complement the efforts of religious bodies towards propagation of their religions and said that JIBWIS has focussed attention on organising preaching sessions and establishment of schools as part of efforts to propagate Islamic activities.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Chairman of JIBWIS Council of Ulamah, Sheikh Salihu Ningi, said that religious leaders are supposed to be committed to preaching peace and tolerance in the society.
He, however, commended the State Government for the support towards the success of the occasion.