Ohoniyi seeks deeper collaboration between traditional, religious leaders

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje, has called for deeper relationship among religious and traditional rulers in the country as part of measures to tackle the socio-economic challenges confronting the country. He made the call when he led a delegation on a working visit to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs […]

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje, has called for deeper relationship among religious and traditional rulers in the country as part of measures to tackle the socio-economic challenges confronting the country.

He made the call when he led a delegation on a working visit to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Abuja National Mosque, on Friday.

“When you look at the situation in the country today, if everybody folds his arms, then we cannot get it right, of which no one will can to do it for us. God created us to be in this country. We found ourselves to be in Nigeria. It is our duty to make sure we do the necessary thing to see that our country is safe, so that the children can have a better place to stay in the future.

“Secondly, being the Ohinoyi of Ebira. In my place, we make a parable that a tree can never form a forest. If you don’t move out, you won’t be able to get it right. We came here to visit this body (NSCIA) for them to know that we have them in mind.

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“And also, we try to establish the relationship, so that the traditional affairs up to the religious affairs, we can get it right. I believe if we have maximum cooperation among ourselves, we can get it right and do something better.
“There is no reason for us to start fighting in the name of religion. Let us see ourselves as a human being and love our neighbours. It is for us to pray for and support the government. Because if God Almighty did not do it for the government, nobody can do it.

“It is our duty as royal fathers to ensure we always assist the government with prayer so that both the federal and state government and up to the local government level, can all do better to the country,” the royal father said.

The Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, who received the Ohinoyi delegation, said the council was happy that the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland came to familiarize himself with the structure of the NSCIA and the role he is expected to play in the state as the leader of the Muslim community in addition to being the traditional ruler.

“And we are pleased to receive him and we are hopeful that from what we have seen, there will be positive improvement in the coordination of Islamic affairs within Ebiraland,” Oloyede said.