By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State said the gradual reduction of security challenges in the state is a sign of response from the Almighty Allah on the intense prayers to that effect by Ulamas and entire citizens of the state.
Governor Dikko Radda stated this when he hosted a popular young Ethiopian Qur’anic reciter, Sheikh Muhammad Afif Taj at the Presidential Banquet Hall, General Muhammadu Buhari (Government), House Katsina.
Governor Umaru Radda appreciated the contributions of Ulamas towards the victory of his election to date and hopes that they would continue with the prayers for the restoration of peace and stability in the state and the nation in general.
Governor Radda said the dinner was borne out of his respect for people of any age blessed with good memorization of Holy Quran in their heads.
He emphasized that, the State Government would name the Katsina School for the Memorization of the Holy Quran after the Ethiopian Qur’anic reciter.
The governor pleaded with Sheikh Afif to relocate to Katsina State to take charge of the school and guide the younger ones on how best to memorize the Holy book.
On the alternative, Governor Radda
said the young sheikh should take his time to be paying regular visits to mentor the students of the school.
Governor Dikko Radda said the state government would grant the reciter an honourary citizenship of the state to make his stay comfortable,
Sheikh Afif Taj while in Katsina,
led last Friday’s Congregational Prayer at Usman Fodio Juma’at Mosque in Modoji Quarters.
In a remark, the Ethiopian Qur’anic Reciter, Sheikh Afif Taj said the dinner was not an honour to him in person, but to the Holy Quran.
He thanked the government and Prominent Ulamas who converged on the dinner venue for the love and hospitality accorded him.
Earlier, the state chief judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar who is also the state chairman organizing committee of the annual Qur’anic recitation competition, spoke at length on the secret behind Quran to mankind and appreciated the young Ethiopian Sheikh who visited Katsina for the graduation of a set of students of an Islamiyya School who memorized the Holy Quran.
Others who spoke include the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Malam Ishaq Shehu Dabai, State Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan, the Director Zakkat and Waqaf Commission, Dr Ahmed Musa Filin Samji and the Commander Hizba Commission, Dr Abu Ammar.
The rest are the state Chairman Council of Ulamas, Sheikh Nazir Kofar Baru, the Chairma JIBWIS Council of Ulamas, Dr. Nasiru Abdulwahab and Dr. Muneer Sheikh Ja’afaru.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the recitation of the Holy Quran by two of the winners of Qur’anic recitation competition, Muhammad Mujitaba Muhammad from Dutsinma and Ibrahim Sani Fada from Safana Local Government Area.
