By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
The Taraba State
Inter-Faith Peace Coalition, a pressure group on Tuesday affirmed that Governor Darius Ishaku’s administration has been treating both Christians and Muslims fairly.
This was contained in a statement by Malam Ayuba Abdullahi and Mr Timothy Audu the group’s coordinators, after its emergency meeting in Jalingo.
The Muslim Council in the state had recently accused Ishaku administration of favouring Christians at the detriment of Muslim faithful in the state.
According to the statement, the sole aim of the group which is made up of clergymen and professionals was promotion of harmonious relationship between both faiths to foster development.
“We therefore appealed to religious leaders and groups in the state not to fan the ember of disunity among the people.
“Let us however, put it on record, that administration has always visibly supported the Muslim faith at various times when the need arises.
“One of such is the recent appointment of a Federal Minister, Alhaji Sambo Jaji, who is a Muslim from Taraba and who openly commended the governor during his courtesy visit in Jalingo for being instrumental for his emergence as Minister,” it stated.
The group further recalled the issue raised about the recent appointment of permanent secretaries in the state, maintaining that no senior Muslim civil servant due to be elevated to the position was denied on the account of their faith.
“Appointment of civil servants as Permanent Secretaries under the current administration has always been based on merit and the records are available in the public domain,” the group stated.
“For instance in Sardauna Local Government, the last two permanent secretaries representing the local government which were appointed by Ishaku were Muslims while the newly appointed were the most senior and qualified from the area,” it stated.
The coalition therefore viewed the Muslim Council’s position as not representing the true happening of the peaceful coexistence between both faiths in Taraba State.
“We have enjoyed a largely religious peaceful atmosphere under this regime and we call on both sides of faith to stop what is gradually snowballing into meaningless exchange of words.
The coalition however advised the governor to immediately convene an inter-religious dialogue where such allegations as raised by the Muslim Council can be genuinely discussed and addressed, while expressing readiness to offer support for the discourse for peace and development.
This was contained in a statement by Malam Ayuba Abdullahi and Mr Timothy Audu the group’s coordinators, after its emergency meeting in Jalingo.
The Muslim Council in the state had recently accused Ishaku administration of favouring Christians at the detriment of Muslim faithful in the state.
According to the statement, the sole aim of the group which is made up of clergymen and professionals was promotion of harmonious relationship between both faiths to foster development.
“We therefore appealed to religious leaders and groups in the state not to fan the ember of disunity among the people.
“Let us however, put it on record, that administration has always visibly supported the Muslim faith at various times when the need arises.
“One of such is the recent appointment of a Federal Minister, Alhaji Sambo Jaji, who is a Muslim from Taraba and who openly commended the governor during his courtesy visit in Jalingo for being instrumental for his emergence as Minister,” it stated.
The group further recalled the issue raised about the recent appointment of permanent secretaries in the state, maintaining that no senior Muslim civil servant due to be elevated to the position was denied on the account of their faith.
“Appointment of civil servants as Permanent Secretaries under the current administration has always been based on merit and the records are available in the public domain,” the group stated.
“For instance in Sardauna Local Government, the last two permanent secretaries representing the local government which were appointed by Ishaku were Muslims while the newly appointed were the most senior and qualified from the area,” it stated.
The coalition therefore viewed the Muslim Council’s position as not representing the true happening of the peaceful coexistence between both faiths in Taraba State.
“We have enjoyed a largely religious peaceful atmosphere under this regime and we call on both sides of faith to stop what is gradually snowballing into meaningless exchange of words.
The coalition however advised the governor to immediately convene an inter-religious dialogue where such allegations as raised by the Muslim Council can be genuinely discussed and addressed, while expressing readiness to offer support for the discourse for peace and development.
