KUKAH’S VIRULENT INTOLERANCE AND SELECTIVE AMNESIA
That one of the major problems assailing Nigeria as a corporate entity is situated within the religious and pseudo-religious elite is a fact that does not require any shred of evidence to the discerning.
Nothing illustrates the foregoing submission more than the usual hoopla from the stable of a supposed Christian cleric and public intellectual, Matthew Hassan Kukah, who has a penchant for heating the polity with his bigoted premises and warped conclusions. The context of his latest misguided vituperations was the book launch organised by Premium Times Books last Wednesday in Abuja, as reported by the online newspaper in the story, “Christians not allowed places of worship in some northern tertiary institutions” on August 16, 2018.
According to Premium Times, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto characteristically berated Muslims generally and Northern Muslims in particular that they orientate their children to be violent. He falsely claimed that Christians are not allowed places of worship in northern higher institutions and he invoked the same mantra of marginalisation that has been used, abused and overused by dissident groups and political desperadoes.
1439AH ‘EIDEL ADHA GOODWILL MESSAGE
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) - under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni – felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim ‘ Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1439 AH ‘Eidel Adha celebrations. We beseech Allah to grant us the opportunity to witness many more of it. Amin.
According to the ‘Sunnah of the noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Muslims who are not on pilgrimage in the Holy Land are enjoined to fast on the day of ‘Arafat and engage themselves in acts of worship and veneration to Allah, believing that with sincerity of intentions, He will forgive their proclivity to transgressions and overlook their short-comings of the preceding and proceeding years and admit them to His Jannah. We therefore, ask Allah to accept our ‘ibadat, increase our ‘iman and grant us protection, contentment and a grateful heart. Amin.
Fellow servants of Allah, in celebrating this year’s ‘Eidel Adha, we must not lose sight of the quintessential virtues and blessings, as well as the moral and spiritual wisdom of the season. Eidel Adha is a period of introspection andsoul searching. It symbolizes Sacrifice, which was sufficiently demonstrated by our patriarch – Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
DHUL-HIJJAH 1439AH PRESS RELEASE
After due consultation with scholars, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) and the Fatwa Committee of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), it was decided that the dates of Dhul-Qa’adah be adjusted to make today Sunday, 12th of August, 2018, the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1439AH. This is in compliance with the earlier Fatwa that declaration of the month of Dhul-Hijjah would be as determined by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
Based on the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA has approved today Sunday, 12th of August, 2018, as the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1439 AH.
The Council urges all Muslims to pray for the country and the pilgrims in the Holy Land. Similarly, all Muslims are enjoined to take the advantage of the first ten (10) days of Dhul-Hijjah for highly rewarding good deeds and supplications, particularly, to fast on the day of Arafah which is Monday, 20th of August, 2018.
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General
KILLINGS: LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, is deeply saddened and devastated by the orgy of violence and mindless killings being perpetrated across the country.
As a matter of fact, looking at the situation of insecurity in Nigeria today and judging it with the incessant killings of innocent people in their scores for whatever reason, the latest incident of mass murder in some villages in Plateau State can only be described as terrible, wicked, evil, disastrous, devilish and calamitous.
The truth is that similar incidents have occurred in other States like Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Zamfara in recent times. Nigeria can definitely not continue like this. These killings must be stopped!
Finding the initial gory incident (also claimed to be another senseless reprisal) and the attacks that followed regrettably disturbing, the office of the Governor of Plateau State issued a strongly-worded press statement in which the Governor condemned the protest that trailed the unfortunate incident of violent attacks in the Northern Senatorial District of the State.