Gov Bello committed to bridging religious gaps, promote tolerance

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Onoja has disclosed that Governor Yahaya Bello is poised to building the State on enviable heights through bridging religious gaps and promoting cohabitation amongst various religious groups.

He made this known when a delegation from the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, led by its Chairman, Amb. Usman Bello, payed him a courtesy call in his office in Lokoja on Tuesday.

While welcoming the Islamic umbrella Group, Chief Onoja defined leadership as ‘the ability to bridge gaps of diversity of tribes, religion, class or ethnicity for the common good.’ He noted that his boss, Governor Bello, had conceived the idea to bridge these gaps that were heavily lacking in the State before his assumption into office.

“In the last 5 years, to the glory of Allah, he has achieved this as a leader through positive collaboration with groups such as JNI, the Council of Ullamah, League of Imams, CAN amongst others, especially as it relates to harmonious relationships,” he observed.

In what he described as a ‘failure of leadership,’ Chief Onoja said the continued disagreements in neighboring Kwara State on whether students should wear hijabs is needless. He regretted leaders were dwelling on trivial issues rather than focusing on the need for quality education the students should acquire to improve their communities and states.

On the completion of its Secretariat that awaits commissioning, he said it was a sign of dedication, discipline, prudence and utilisation and being dedicated with the little things that come to the Group.

Asides being bold enough to guard his people against the politics of Covid-19, he added that Governor Bello has been on his toes in keeping the State safe for business, transport and religious practice despite being bordered by 10 states.

According to him, “God has been shielding our State from his wealth of benevolence. We must seek more of His blessings through prayer and joint-efforts as Groups to pray and propagate the good works of the Governor on the national scale as it remains what the country yearns for.”

He finally asked for continued prayers from the JNI for his boss, himself, and the Government across all levels, promising to convey its requests to his boss, the Governor.

In their joint remark earlier, Secretary of the Group, Alh. Adeboye Isah in a joint voice with the Chairman, said the purpose of the visit was formally thank the Governor for his giant strides in the State and for engaging it on the wheels of religious harmony.

They particularly praised Chief Onoja for facilitating the Okpo Central Mosque years ago as Chief of Staff and highlighted among others, his lofty contributions towards the erection of its Secretariat. They insisted that these factors, has proven without reasonable doubt, that he is detribalised and obviously unbiased on the matters of religious equality.

They described Governor Bello as being second to none on security matters, advising him to foster his exploits for the greater good. They explained that as an Islamic group, their activities are informed on da’wah hinged on Islamic education and missionary work in Nigeria, thus, require a vehicle to expedite these activities and finally prayed Allah to grant the Government of Yahaya Bello protection against evil and wisdom to continue in its good works.