Ramadan: Etsu Nupe Cautions Clerics Against Hate Sermons

From Tunde Suleman, Minna
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has cautioned Islamic clergymen against provocative Tafsir sermons capable of causing chaos during and after Ramadan. Alhaji Abubakar stated this in his Wadata palace when he met with Imams, Islamic clerics and representatives of various market traders.
“Religious preaching during this period should be targeted at maintaining harmonious relationship among the people and nothing should be done to divide the people,” the Etsu Nupe said.
The traditional ruler said that harmonious relationship among people should always be promoted to enhance peace, unity and progress of Nupe kingdom, Niger State and Nigeria as a whole.
The monarch reminded the clerics of their roles as representatives of Allah, saying that they should always be shining examples both in words and in deeds.
Alhaji Abubakar also warned against sectarianism in Islam and appealed to the clerics to propagate the genuine teachings of the religion.
He also appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always assist the less privileged in the society with food items and funds to facilitate fasting in Ramadan among the masses.
The Etsu Nupe also appealed to traders not to hike prices of commodities, especially foodstuff, in Ramadan.
His words: “Those using the period to increase prices of their commodities should have a re-think and fear God and not to cause any unnecessary hardship on their fellow brothers and sisters in Islam.”
In his remarks on behalf of others, the Chief Imam of Bida, Sheikh Adamu Liman-Yakatun, enjoined all all to have the fear of God in their minds and to always remember the day of reckoning.
He also appealed to wealthy individuals to assist in feeding of the less-privileged during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to the clergyman, “Muslims should spend their God given wealth in the course of moving the religion forward, rather than saving them in bank accounts that will not have any value for them, here and in the hereafter”.