National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Ramadan Special
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
51
Ramadan 8th, 1434 AH
Avoid provocative statements –NSCIA advises CAN leader AISHA TITILAYO
I
n the spirit of Ramadan, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has implored Christian elders, the federal government and well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to avoid the use of provocative utterances. This call was made in a press release signed by NSCIA’s Acting-Director of Publicity, Muhammad Kabir Kassim, following an assault publicly hauled at one of the high ranking members of NSCIA, the Etsu of Nupe, where Pastor Oritsejafor made an attempt to label the
highly revered monarch as an abductor in reference to a 24-year woman who voluntarily embraced Islam and came into the protective custody of the royal highness through a judicial process against the avowed threat of her father. Explaining further, NSCIA stated that the woman had addressed the press severally on the matter in which she explained how she embraced Islam and even concluded that no deprivation of such protective custody could force her renounce (Islam) her newly found faith. Another of such issues was about the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who had meticulously ed-
ucated Nigerians on the current global Islamic Banking to the satisfaction of many people including some welleducated and understanding Christians who are not mischievous. NSCIA also included that whereas Nigerians, across religious lines appreciate the Islamic Banking; Oritsejafor kept fanning an ember of discord by claiming that the Islamic Banking was targeted at Nigerian Christians. “He seems to have forgotten that the whole idea of Islamic Banking in Nigeria was initiated as a matter of policy by Lamido’s predecessor in office, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and that the operating officer in charge of that window is Tunde Lemo, also a
Christian and both are alive in Nigeria today. If Islamic Banking is aimed at Christians in Nigeria, against which religion is it aimed at in Europe, America and Asia, where it is championed by Christians, Buddhists and Hindus? However, NSCIA noted that being silent must not be taken for timidity and that its response would not have been necessary but to let Nigerian public know the true facts of the matter. “We regard the unwarranted utterances of Pastor Oritsejafor as his personal opinion and not those of the respected CAN because both religions’ apex bodies (NSCIA and CAN) had closely interacted with mutual respect for quite some time now.” NSCIA added.
L-R: The Administrative Secretary, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Mallam Ma’aruf Ahmed, Chairman, ZSF, Prince Sulayman Olagunju; Mr. AbdulRazaq Salaudeen; Administrator, Avi Ceena International School, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Darwish Foudeh and Executive Director, ZSF, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib; during the presentation of a tricycle (Keke Marwa) to Salaudeen at the 8th ZSF’s Zakat distribution at the Syrian Club, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Yuguda earmarks N88m for widows EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI
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overnor Yuguda of Bauchi state has earmarked about N88 million to cushion the effects of Ramadan fasting among widows and divorcees. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajia Talatu Mohammed Barwa made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in her office, saying the gesture would also go a long way to promote religious activities in the state. She added that about 200 Tafsir mosques were designed to enjoy the foodstuffs provided by the
ministry which is targeted at women, children and divorcees. Barwa maintained that the administration of Yuguda had placed serious priority on women’s plights and specially committed to eradicating poverty among the lessprivileged women saying government has been doing everything possible to ensure women are not marginalised. According to her, about 2,850 women were also trained on skill acquisition on sewing, dying, knitting with additional donation of funds as takeup grants to enable them start their business for self reliant.
Tambuwal, Dabiri, FCT Minister grace MMPN lecture
A Consul-General, United States Consulate-General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins (middle), presenting a tricycle (Keke Marwa) to Mr. Mukaila Aderoju while Executive Director, ZSF, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, watches at the 8th ZSF’s Zakat distribution at the Syrian Club, Ikoyi, Lagos.
L-R: Alhaji Usman Bugaje; Dr. Jubril Oyekan and Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),Prof. Isiaq Oloyede at the just concluded Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
lhaji AminuTambuwal, Hon. AbikeDabiri-Erewa and Sen. Bala Muhammad were among the prominent Nigerians expected at the 8th Ramadan lecture of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) in Abuja. MMPN chairman, Abdur-RahmanBalogun said that the lecture would hold at National Mosque Hall, Abuja on Saturday July 20. Lecture on “Islam in a multi-religious society” will be delivered by an Abuja-based Islamic scholar, Ustaz Nurudeen AbdulMalik. He saidTambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives would be the Special Guest of Honour,
while Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs would be the mother of the Day. The statement also listed FCT Minister as the Chief Host and Alhaji Muhammad Bello, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as the chairman of the occasion. Balogun said in the statement that the choice of the topic was to proffer solution to the current challenges in the country as it affects Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He said all stakeholders including religious groups, security agencies, scholars in various fields and students have been invited to grace the occasion.