TRUTH FACT

The Forum of Islamic Preachers, Taraba State chapter has advised the people of the state to refrain from raining curses on the leaders in the state.

Malam Huseini Isma’il, chairman of the Forum advised while fielding questions from journalists shortly after a special prayer session offered for the state and Nigeria at large organized by the forum that was held in Jalingo.

He said the forum invited Islamic Scholars, Imams, and all its 16 LGAs Coordinators to come and pray for Taraba and the country in general for peaceful coexistence and sought Allah’s intervention to overcome the security challenges.

Malam Isma’il described the cursing of leaders as a violation of the teachings of Islam and admonished the people of Taraba state, especially some of the Muslim clerics who are taking advantage of their podiums during sermons and according to him, misguiding their followers.

“The Forum has observed with dismay that some Islamic scholars in the state have written a prayer point which is being used for cursing leaders, this, not Islam, and Prophet, Muhammad (SAW) discouraged this act. Therefore, the forum is also against such prayers, what our leaders needs is constant prayers for Allah’s guidance.

According to him, the only way to solve problems as people is to support their leaders by praying for them and not cursing them.

“The moment you curse your leaders, you curse the entire society because you will be the ones to suffer hardship, whereas the moment you support them, pray for them, Allah will direct their steps with your prayers.

“Also ensure that you contribute your quota, play your role in building the state not destroying what has been built up and some people are still doing their best in developing the state.

“If a leader did well appreciate him, for instance, the present administration of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has been and is still assisting Islam and the Muslim ummah because, during the just concluded Hajj 2022, the state government sponsored about 150 Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform one of the five pillars of Islam.

“When we were in the holy land, Governor Darius Ishaku also sent N3m as an additional contribution to the national healthcare committee, and he also sent money to every pilgrim from Taraba State as a Sallah gift among other things apart from supporting the Board, so, you see all these things are commendable but non among those Islamic scholars come out to say thank your Excellency.

He said: “What is expected of us now is patience, fervent prayers and we must stand up to get things better in our way through legitimate ways.

“We must desist from abusing or cursing our leaders, we in Taraba State are one be it you are a Christian or Muslim, what we need are competence and good governance. We should desist from poisoning the minds of our youths and discourage politics of religion or ethnicity.

Malam Huseini Isma’il, however, appealed to both the federal government and ASSU to as a matter of urgency bring an end to the lingering strike embarked by the union, noting that many children have turned into criminals in society as a result of the strike.