By Ibrahima Yakubu
Kaduna(Nigeria) – Over 20 Christian clerics and youths in Kaduna state, North-west Nigeria, had on the first day of Ramadan visited and joined the Muslim Faithful in the state to break their fast at the Tijjaniya Mosque, Sheik Gumi market.
This act is aimed at strengthening peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among the two major religions in the state.
Leader of the delegation who is the General over seer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said, this act is not their first, but they have made it to be a continual thing in order to enhance unity and promote inter-religious harmony.
He said, “We came here so as to build a good relationship with the Muslims as our neighbors. Our religious teachings taught us to love our neighbors, and our neighbor are the Muslims, that is why we are here to join them in celebrating the arrival of the holy month and urge them to rededicate their lives to worship Allah.”
Speaking also, Reverend David Abaya of the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, explained that, having known the importance of fasting and praying, they came to congratulate them for Ramadan commencement and also to urged them to pray for the unity of the country.
He said, “We came together with Pastors, Evangelist, Reverend and youth leaders from different churches so as to interact, eat and have some drinks with you; the essence also is for us to teach our followers the importance of religious tolerance and to promote better understanding of our religious teachings.”
The Clerics also made a presentation of gift items which include plastic kettles, Mats, and fruits.
The Chief Imam of Tijjaniya Mosque, Sheik Gumi market, Sheik Ibrahim Kyauta while receiving the gift items prayed for God’s blessings on his guests; noting that, there is the need for the Muslims to emulate such gesture during the Christian Lenten period.
He also pointed out that,” We all worship one God, and we all believed in the Holy books; in fact, we are one family under God, and our parents are Adams and Eve”.
