.Hosts Muslim community in Imo, Abia
By Valentine Amanze,
Online Editor
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said that it was wrong for the Arewa Youths to ask Ndigbo to leave the Northern states.
He said that every part of Nigeria was home to every Nigerian, adding that “Nigeria should have grown beyond all these petty sentiments.”
Okorocha spoke, while breaking fast with Muslims in the state at the Government House, Owerri, Monday night.
He said, “Nigeria is a country to every Nigerian and every part of the country should be a home to every Nigerian and that is why the Igbo live and also marry in the North and ditto, Arewa people and the Yoruba and so on.
“We are here as a tradition to break the fast with our Muslim brothers who have been fasting for so many weeks now. We are here to dramatize unity and love for one another. We Nigerians must learn to respect each other’s religion because religion has a lot to do with every individual or society.
“We should also be our brothers’ keeper as preached by every religion. I want to assure all Muslims in Imo State that you are safe in the state. Let no one leave the state for any reason at all. This is Nigeria and Nigeria is one nation, indivisible and indissoluble.
“When we heard about the call by the Arewa Youths asking the Igbo to go back home, I said to them: which home? Nigeria is our country, Nigeria is our home and as such we must love one another. I tell all of you here that Imo State is your home irrespective of your religion. Feel free and keep the laws of the land because we are one and shall remain one in God’s name”.
Leader of the Muslim Community in Imo State, Alhaji Yusuf Nwaoha, and his Abia State Counterpart, Alhaji Usman Mohammadu, thanked the governor for sustaining the breaking of fast with Muslim faithful in the state for the past six years and enjoined him to handover the legacy to his successor come 2019.
They also thanked the government and people of the state for the peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims and called for its sustenance.
The two Muslim leaders honoured the governor with awards. While the Muslim leader in the state, Alhaji Yusuf, gave award to the governor as the Most Muslim Friendly Governor in Nigeria, his Abia State counterpart, Alhaji Mohammadu, gave the governor award as the National Bridge Builder.
