SOKOTO KILLING : KEBBI CAN COMMENDS SULTAN, TAMBUWAL, BISHOP KUKAH.
FROM : AYODELE AJOGE, BIRNIN-KEBBI.
The Kebbi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar 111, Governor Aminu Wazir
Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah for their immediate response to the brutal killing of Miss Deborah Samuel a 200 level Student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
In a three page communique issued at the end of its emergency meeting in Birnin-Kebbi, signed by the Chairman of communique committee, Dr. Johnson Oyedepo, Pastor Ibrahim Machunga Secretary, and three others, made available to Sunday Tribune, the Association expressed appreciation for the proactive measures and intervention of Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi sate to avert break down of law and order in Kebbi State and the key role played by the traditional institution under the leadership of the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Illiyasu Muhammad Bashir to calm down tension across the State.
The State Chairman of the Association, Venerable Dr. Ayuba Kanta who summoned the Emergency meeting to delineate on gruesome killing of Miss Deborah Samuel emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence among Christians and Muslims in the State and Nigeria at large, urging CAN leadership to preach and show love and forgiveness in time like this.
The Communique committee appreciate the spiritual foresight of Bishop Kukah for his timely ecclesiastical message calling on all Christians not to take laws into their hands but to allow the appropriate authority to do so.
The Committee again recognised and commended the position of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for condemning the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, a 200 level Student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
It also resolve that the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) co-headed by the Sultan and the President of CAN should organise an immediate workshop that will bring the two religious leaders together to educate them on peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance.
"we hereby resolved that Sokoto State government be encouraged to give financial support to the family of the deceased. The relevant authorities should leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice. Government at all levels should call on religious leaders to desist from hate speeches or provocative utterances capable of igniting crisis in all parts of Nigeria." The communique read.