Ebonyi Moslems denounce jihad text message
From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki

THE Ebonyi State Council of Islamic Affairs yesterday asked Moslem faithful in the state to ignore a text message urging Jihad or holy war in the state over the state government's complaint about the use of loudspeakers to call worshippers for prayers.


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Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Abakaliki, the state capital, Chairman of the council, Alhaji Suleiman P.I. Ogah, said the author of the text had misinterpreted government's position on the matter, hence should be ignored by the faithful.

Ogah alleged that the text message originated from one Sheik, Haroun Ajah, whom he described as a self-acclaimed representative of Ja'amatu Nasiril Islam group.

At the briefing were other Moslem leaders in the state, including Alhaji Balla Musa Abdullahi, Hausa elder and former Chairman of Ebonyi State Moslem Pilgrims Welfare Board; Alhaji Ishaq Adamu, Chief Imam of Hossana (Motor Park) Mosque, Abakaliki; Alhaji Muhammadu Obiahu Ajah, Eze Ndi-Moslem of Ebonyi State and Kilani Shittu, Oba of Yoruba, Abakaliki.

Ogah, who is also the Chairman of Ebonyi State Moslem Pilgrims Welfare Board, dismissed the text message as the machination of an individual "bent on causing chaos for very selfish reasons," stressing that Governor Martin Elechi has not banned the use of loudspeakers to call Moslem faithful to prayers.

He described the alleged author of the text message as "a known rabble-rouser, who often parades himself as leader of many Moslem sects even when his impact is not being positively felt by anybody as far as Islam is concerned."

Recalling a September 18, 2009 courtesy visit to the governor by Moslem leaders, Ogah said Elechi only disclosed that government was in receipt of some complaints over noises from places of worship and merely asked in a friendly manner whether reducing the noise would affect the devotees' prayers.

His words: "After due consideration, we explained to him that the increase in our activities was in connection with the Ramadan as we Moslems maximise our worship towards the last days of the Ramadan.

"We however told him that we would reduce the volume of the loudspeakers. We told His Excellency that other religious organisations also contribute to the noise with their loudspeakers.

"He expressed shock because at the inception of his administration he advised all religious groups to reduce the noises from places of worship as it was posing health hazard to the citizenry. Right there he directed that Christian leaders should be invited for the same discussion.

"The message came to us as a shock because His Excellency advised us to reduce the volume of loudspeakers in our places of worship, which he said also applies to Christian places of worship in the state.

"I personally made sure that Sheik Haroun Ajah was in that meeting with His Excellency due to his (Sheik) vast religious knowledge. So if there would be anything from His Excellency against Islam, I expect Haroun Ajah to advise the Governor. Haroun Ajah did not say anything in that meeting. Of course nothing called for that."

All these my fake brothers claiming islam. They just want to grab their own national cake from hausa/fulani. Very soon dem go answer their papa names

rotflmao

Igbo people and Grandeur
the twain cant be untwained.

osama bin ikekechuku

jokers

I dont believe there is a true igbo muslim, they re all wuruwuru

hummmmm