***Preaches Peaceful Coexistence, Unity.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
SULTAN of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders rather than curse them as he tasked them on unity and peaceful coexistence for the growth and development of Nigeria.
Sultan Abubakar made the call on Saturday in Lokoja while inaugurating the “Alhaji Abdullahi Habib Memorial Mosque”, at Federal University Lokoja (FUL), built and donated by a widow, Dr Maimuna Abdullahi.
The Sultan who was represented by the Emir of Keffi, HRH Shehu Chindo-Yamusa said that as patriotic citizens, “We should fervently pray for our leaders and not curse them so that they don’t go astray to our detriment as a nation.
“We should learn to always respect our leaders and the rule of law for the nation to have a direction for better living.
“This edifice or place of worship (sitting on 150m x 250 expanse of land) is built and donated by a family that loves God and desires for others to know and worship Him for their wellbeing.
“It’s my prayer that God will handsomely reward the Habib family and give others the passion and zeal to do same for the benefit of mankind”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of the University described the inauguration of the mosque as a historic moment in the annals of the institution.
He expressed the hope that the mosque would serve as “a testament to our shared commitment to knowledge, compassion and service to humanity.”
“The commissioning of the mosque today is but a historic moment in the annals of this university, and the Muslim community will observe daily religious obligations that will foster the unity of all faiths in the university.
“Quran chapter 57 verse 18 says: “For those who give in charity, men, and women, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward”
“This explains the circumstance of Dr Memuna Abdullahi our benefactor, who in her wisdom, decided to build and donate this mosque in memory of her late husband, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Habib.
“I remain grateful to God Almighty that this project was initiated and completed under my tenure in the University. May God continue to bless the family of the donor for finding Federal University Lokoja worthy of this gesture”, Akinwumi said.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), In his Keynote address, commended the family of the donor saying that the importance of the donated Jumaat Mosque in an University environment could not be over emphasized.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services of the organization, Abdulwahap Oyedokun, the JAMB Registrar said that the gesture would benefit the University community tremendously as it would go a long way in impacting useful knowledge and enhance “spiritual moulding.”
For the donor, Dr Abdullahi, the Mosque was a dream come true as it was the wish of her late husband who died on the 31st of October, 2021 leaving the instruction for her and the children to accomplish.
She disclosed that the mosque was the third and biggest of the three mosques the family has so far built and donated in Kogi as the family’s own way of giving back to God and the society.
“Today, we have have equally donated 75 copies of Qur’an to this very mosque located in FUL as our gesture in the service of God.
“This gesture is just the beginning and not an end to our resolve as a family in serving the Almighty God”, she said. (Ends)