Muslim Leaders Condemn Sallah Visit On Wike

The leadership of the Muslim Ummah in Rivers State has condemned what it described as “unusual Sallah visit to the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike by some Muslim faithful during the last Eld-el Fitri Sallah celebration in the state, and urged politicians not to involve Muslims in any political crisis.
Traditionally, the Muslims pay homage to the governor of the state during Salah celebrations but this year’s celebration, witnessed simultaneous visits to the Government House , where the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru received them and another unusual visit to the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
This was contained in a 12 point communiqué, singed by the State Islamic leader and Vice President General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor and 11 other Muslim leaders in Port Harcourt and made available to journalists, Tuesday.
The communiqué which was part of the resolutions reached at the first post Ramadan meeting held in Port Harcourt, regretted that the confusion over the visits was being widely misconstrued as evidence of irreparable disunity among Muslims in the state.
According to the communiqué, Islam enjoins obedience and support to constituted authority “that authority or leader as it concerns Rivers State is Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that is why we pay him Salah visits during which we tell him our problems and hear from him and what his government expects from the Muslim Ummah adding that at no time in the past, did Muslims pay such visits to any person no matter how highly placed the individual is.
The Muslim leaders warned members of the religion in the state to be wary of the antics of politicians and not allow politicians to use poverty as a bait to destroy the unity of the Ummah, while noting that the pervading poverty in the country was traceable to bad leadership caused by politicians.
The Muslim leaders in the state said that governor Amaechi has earned their firm support and prayers due to the unprecedented visible infrastructural development in various sectors in the state, in areas of road construction, education health and agriculture, from which indigenes and residents, including Muslims are benefitting.
The communiqué further commended the state government and security agencies for the on-going proactive measures against potential insurgency and terrorist attack, mindless killing and kidnapping of innocent law abiding citizens in the state, adding that Muslims are not Boko Haram members.
On the deadly Ebola Virus, the Muslim leaders urged the state government to intensify measures to prevent the spread of the deadly disease into the state even as it called on its members to be vigilant and take all necessary hygienic measures to avoid contracting the disease.