The Chief Missioner of Nasrul-lahi-l faith Society, NASFAT, Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, has urged intending pilgrims to use the 2019 Hajj to pray fervently for peace and unity in Nigeria.
Onike made the plea on Tuesday at the farewell prayers and seminar organised for 570 intending pilgrims performing the 2019 Hajj at Alausa in Ikeja.
He said: “Performing Hajj is one of the best opportunities for spiritual rebirth and renewal that any Muslim can undergo.
“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure, and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or commit sin, will return after Hajj free from all sins- as if he were born anew.”
Onike commended the Federal Government’s efforts at curtailing the frequent crises between the farmers and herdsmen in some parts of the country.
He said that the suspended Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) seeks to settle not only migrant pastoral families and their animals, but also farmers in an organised place.
“With the provisions of necessary and adequate basic amenities like schools, hospitals, roads, clinics, markets and manufacturing entities that will add value to meats and animal products, it will encourage symbiotic relationship,” he said.
Onike also advised the government to ensure that its policies were properly disseminated to the people.
“It will be recalled that the government set up a scheme last year tagged: “The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).
“It was built on six key pillars: economic investment, conflict resolution, law and order, humanitarian relief, information education and strategic communication; and cross-cutting issues.
“Therefore, the wholistic implementation of the plan with enough sensitisation would have saved us from trailing RUGA scheme, which definitely is built in NLTP.
“In Islam, animals are regarded as communities like us; therefore, man has a duty to take care of them, especially if they are kept and restrained,” he said.
Onile also urged the Federal Government to involve all stakeholders in Nigerian project when taking decisions that would affect them and the country at large.
(NAN)
