MUSLIMS URGED TO CO-EXIST (PAGE 22, NOV 21)

RESIDENTS of the Northern Region, especially Muslims, have been urged to co-exist peacefully for the accelerated development of the region.
The Executive Governor of Kano State in Nigeria, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau stated this at a day’s National Muslim Summit in Tamale.
He stressed a need for a concerted effort in peace building, saying the issue of peace should not be left for the traditional authorities alone to handle.
Mallam Shekarau observed that co-existing peacefully with one another was paramount, adding that Allah had no business with people who did not love their neighbours, no matter the number of times they prayed and fasted.
He urged Muslims to lead exemplary lives, stressing “if we really want to reposition ourselves, it must be seen in our conduct”.
Mallam Shekarau urged the youth to exhibit good conduct, hard work and plan for the future if they wanted to succeed in life.
He commended the Chief of Tamale, Dakpema Naa Mohammed Dawuni, for instituting an education endowment fund for the metropolis.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, stated that given the right and proper environment, Islam could provide answers to many fundamental economic and social challenges of “our times, nationally and globally”.
“If we rediscover the wisdom in Islam, we will find that it is thoroughly applicable to modern needs, ”he said.
The former Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf, urged Muslims to confront “attitudinal changes” to enable them to contribute meaningfully to nation building.
He stressed the need for Muslims to help build the capacities of Muslim non-governmental organisations to attract more aid to improve the quality of lives of Muslims.
The Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Gariba Boya, stressed the need for the Government to facilitate the establishment of the Muslim clan system to cater for family rights and duties as well as provide for an avenue for the Government to interface with families.
The Executive Chairman of Al Furqan Foundation, Mallam Baba Yunus Mohammed, urged Muslims to confront “the ugly realities of our present situation and restore the image of Muslims and Islam; we must first of all ensure peace and stability in our respective communities not through the barrel of the gun”.
He, however, stated that the peace that was attained by denying “our brothers and sisters a legitimate voice is illusory and will not last”.
The summit was aimed, among other objectives, at drawing up an action plan to propose the best way to address intellectual, cultural, political, economic, scientific and development challenges facing Muslims in Ghana.
Traditional rulers, Muslim Scholars and leaders, attended the Summit which was on the theme: “Repositioning the Muslim Ummah in Ghana for the challenges of the 21st Century”.