A large number of Muslim youths and Islamic scholars attended this year’s Christmas service and shared many gifts to strengthen Christian – Muslim relationship in the northern part of the country.
According to the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, Pastor Yohanna Buru, every year, hundreds of Muslims from 19 northern states usually joined them in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at his Church, to promote peace and unity.
Buru said the different sects of Muslim organizations, including members of Tijjaniya, shiites under Islamic Movement of Nigeria and other Sunni Muslims joined them with the sole purpose of strengthening peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance.
The Muslim groups also presented gifts to the Church as a sign of peace, love and better understanding.
“They came with many gifts and awards which they shared to the Christians to strengthen Christian and Muslims relationship.
The Christian cleric said this year’s Christmas celebration came amids high inflation, insecurity, and rising costs of foodstuff, poverty and unemployment bedevilling peace and stability in the country.
Buru added that last year, more than 1,000 Muslims attended the Christmas service and they came with their different gifts to share with Christian brothers to strengthen interreligious tolerance .
Buru further called on Islamic and Christian clergies to embark on ceaseless prayers towards the conduct of peaceful elections in 2023.
He called on Nigerians to equally pray for the Nigerian Army and para military organisaions to defeat insecurity challenges bedevilling peaceful coexistence.
Reports revealed that Muslim youths, in corporate dresses, visited other Churches including Unguwar Rimi Church.
Responding, one of the Islamic scholars sheik Salisu Abdullahi Giwa, who headed a delegation of buses loaded with Muslims from katsina, Kano, Zamfara, said they were in Kaduna to join their brothers, the Christians, to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
He said they decided to attend the Church service to mark the Christmas, a day that the birth of Jesus Christ was being celebrated over the globe.
He said that as Muslims, they considered Christians as their fellow brothers and sisters in humanity, stressing that they were at the Church service to join them in celebrating and sharing the joy of the day with them.
He then appealed to Muslims and Christians to remember that they were all the children of eve and Adams.
He said both adherents had holy books sent from one God which teaching and guiding them how to live in peace and harmony with any one, irrespective of tribe, culture and ethnicity.
Another imam based in Kaduna, Malam Ibrahim Musa from Hayin Kogi, expressed happiness on how Muslims and Christians promoted good relationship.
He added that they would award the pastor for promoting peace for many years in the state.
Mohammed zakariya, who headed Nigeria Youth for Peace Initiative, also lead a team of Muslims to Unguwar Rimi church.
After attending the service, they shared gifts and some economic trees for the Church.
( NAN)
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