by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The General overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha Kaduna State, Pastor (Dr) Yohanna Buru, and some elders from the church have congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, on Mauled cerebration 2024.
They also congratulated Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Sheikh Ibrahim Yakubu Elzazzaky, Khalifa Sunisi Lamido Sunusi, the leader of Tijjaniyya Islamic sect across West, North and East Africa, and Sheikh Halliru Maraya on Maulud cerebration 2024.
Speaking, Pastor Buru said, he always attends Maulud celebrations with church members to strengthen relationship and poster peace.
“Maulud celebration provides golden opportunity for Christians to meet, interact, dialogue, mediate, discuss and exchange goodwill messages to poster peace and unity with many imams and other Top Islamic scholars,” he said.
He added that, “We were at the Stadium this afternoon to strengthen good relationships with Muslims – our neighbors, the better ways towards promoting peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance among the adherence of the different faith-based organizations.”
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 Prophet 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 Prophet Mohammed is for all mankind, irrespective of difference in tribe, regions, ethnicity, religion, culture, tradition, color, race, and continents.”
He stressed that, for the fast14 years, various Muslim organizations, both in Nigeria and those in the Diaspora usually invite Christians to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, saying, “And the aim is to strengthen Christians and Muslim relationship for peace and unity in the country, and to exchange goodwill messages for peace.”
He said: “We must remember that we are created by one God, and we are the children of Adam and Eve, and we both have our holy scriptures (Bible and Qur’an) from one God, which guides 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 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 strengthen relationships,” he said.
He said “One thing to always remember is, we are one family under God and must, therefore, do everything to promote harmony and learn various ways of tolerating each other for peace and the unity of the country.”
Responding, one of the Islamic scholars at the Stadium, Sheikh 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 adherents 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 Muslims that participated in this year’s Maulud celebration, saying, thousands of Muslims across the 23 local governments of Kaduna State arrived at the Stadium. “So many Islamic schools participated in the matching parade at the Stadium to grace to occasion,” he said.
Also, Sheikh Aliyu Turmizi, representing the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) – popularly known as Shiites – expressed delight over the large number of Muslims that participated in this year’s Maulid cerebration in Kaduna State.
He said, “Maulid celebrations always bring Muslims from all parts 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.