Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has urged Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah to pray fervently for continued peace and tranquillity in the country.
The Vice President made the call on Sunday in Abuja, while speaking at the maiden edition of the National Prayer for Peace and Security, organised by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, which held at the National Mosque, Abuja.
Sambo, who emphasised that prayer was a strong weapon against any adversity, reiterated the commitment of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to providing adequate security and ensuring the stability and unity of Nigeria.
He said “let me reiterate that when any adverse situation befell the Ummah during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Sahabah, their greatest weapon was resorting to prayers to seek for Allah’s intercession.
“We shall continue to organise prayers as frequently as possible and Allah SWT in his infinite mercy will answer our prayers in removing in totality the act of terrorism by the Boko Haram and all other vices in Nigeria.
“Let me at this juncture urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace and unity of our dear country.”
He called on the Muslim Ummah to promote the ideals of Islam by living according to the tenets of the religion, which promotes peace, good neighbourliness and kindness, saying Muslims should “not allow the few disgruntled elements among us to portray Islam and Muslims in bad light,” even as he appealed to Muslim clerics to “apply modesty in their sermons and preaching, while admonishing adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).”
On the ongoing efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls, Vice President Sambo said the government was “working assiduously to support the efforts of the military by increasing their capacity in the search of our missing girls and to further secure the territorial integrity of the nation and make a call for the immediate release of these girls.”
Sambo used the opportunity to express appreciation for the support of Nigeria’s neighbours, including, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic and all African countries in the fight against the scourge of terrorism in the country. He also commended the United Kingdom, France, as well as the United States of America, China and “all countries of the World that are against the terrorism that is happening in Nigeria, Africa and the World in general.”
In his remarks, the Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal said the National Assembly would do everything within its constitutional powers to support the government’s effort to fight terrorism.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar on his part stressed the importance of justice, equity and fairness to the maintenance of peace in every society, the Sultan urged Muslims especially those in leadership position to shun corruption and any act that affect the development of the country.
Prayers were offered by renowned Muslim clerics from all over the country for continued peace, unity and the development of Nigeria and had in attendance the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, deputy governors, members of the legislature, federal executive council members, royal fathers and several Muslim faithful.
