Chief Imam of Jos supports emergency rule

The cleric insists that Muslims and Christians in the Plateau are in harmony.

The Chief Imam of the Jos Central Mosque, Balarabe Da’ud, has called on the Plateau State government to take cognisance of the relative peace already achieved in Jos in order to maintain unity among religions and ethnic nationals living in the state. He also declared support for the State of Emergency declared in three states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to government to strive to ensure that the harmonious relationship between tribes and

ethnic groups being currently enjoyed in state at the moment is maintained for the common good of all,” Mr. Da’ud said.

The cleric was speaking to journalists in Jos, Friday, on the role of religious leaders in achieving lasting peace in the country.

He debunked speculations that the two major religions in the state, Christianity and Islam, were not in harmony with one another, saying Muslims in Plateau had a good relationship with the Christians.

“I, as the leader of the Muslim community in the state, have met several times with the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama and with other religious leaders, in a bid to find lasting peace, to counter the fracas we have been having in the past ten years,” he said.

Commenting on the state of emergency imposed in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe by President Goodluck Jonathan, the chief Imam applauded the gesture, saying it will curtail the loss of lives being recorded in those areas.

“I urge citizens to co-operate with security agents charged with the responsibility of restoring permanent peace in the troubled states so that the country can attain its desire to restore peace in these states,” he said.

He urged security operatives in the troubled states, including Plateau and the entire country, not to use excessive force on

unarmed civilians. He also called on the government at all levels to ensure justice was done in equal distribution of national wealth, pointing out that abject poverty, untold hardships bedeviling Nigerians and also idleness amongst the youth are responsible for the unrest in the country.