Kaduna state government does not discriminate against any religion, religious sect or denomination and is ready to partner with any group that will add value to the el-Rufai administration, the Acting Governor, Hon. Aminu Shagali has said.
Shagali, who is also the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, made this known while receiving a delegation of the Standing Committee on Qur’anic Recitation Competition in his office on Tuesday.
He also promised that Kaduna state Governor will assist any religious group that seeks to move the state forward, in line with the administration’s determination to make the state great again.
The Acting Governor advised the 10 winners who will represent Kaduna state at the coming National Qur’anic Competition in Lagos, to break the 2014 record of the state, when its contingent clinched five out of the 10 trophies in Jigawa state.
‘’I want you to improve on the performance of the previous contingent, by winning seven trophies. Kaduna state has been winning laurels since the competition started. People from other states come to Kaduna, learn Qur’anic recitation, go back to their states and represent them, and even win at the national level,’’ he said.
The Acting Governor however tasked Islamic teachers and parents to also impart morals on their students, arguing that knowledge is diminished if it is devoid of morals. He expressed delight that good Islamic schools that teach Qur’anic recitation abound in Kaduna state.
The Director General Bureau of Interfaith, Alhaji Jamilu Abubakar Albani, said that the purpose of Qur’anic Recitation Competition is to foster unity amongst Muslims and even non-Muslims.
‘’It is immaterial to the standing committee whether you belong to Darika or Izala sect. Its main focus is the recitation of the glorious Qur’an in the best possible manner. During the competition, persons of other faiths are invited to listen to the recitations.
Albani noted that all the winners of this year’s edition of the Qur’anic competition were educated in the regular school system. He also said that all of them attended Islamic schools from their homes.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Qur’anic Recitation and Competition in Kaduna state, Dr Muhammad Bello AbdulKadir, thanked Governor Nasir el-Rufai, the House Speaker and legislators for their individual supports.
Dr AbdulKadir who is also the Salanken Zazzau, said that the success of Kaduna state in Qur’anic Recitation competitions in the last 15 years has spread to other states. He said Kogi state and FCT have requested officials from Kaduna state to help them in organising their own competitions, adding that 12 judges spent 10 days in order for the 10 winners to emerge from the competition.
