The Chief of Staff, to Kogi State governor, Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku has said that he did not abuse the religion of Christianity as claimed by some people.
Speaking on Radio Kogi, 93.5 FM stereo, Yahaya Bello’s chief of staff, Asuku who was presented by the hostess, Mrs Halimat Salihu (Big Mama) as speaking on behalf of the governor was meant to discuss the looming crisis from the leadership scuffle that has inundated the Okene Central Mosque following the death of the Chief Imam, Sheikh Alhaji Musa Galadima in 2019.
Asuku, While conversing on the leadership tussle between the members of the Ahlu Sunnah and also the Tijanniyah sects, has accused the duo sects of causing division in the religion of islam negating the islamic lay down principle and tracing the steps of the “modern day Christians”
While the presenter tried to caution him against making such remarks, the chief of staff who spoke in Ebira language said; “My plea to the Ummah in Ebira land is that for God’s sake, they need started exhibiting Christianity. The Muslims in Ebira land have deviated to Christianity ignorantly.
Expectedly, the comments have not gone down well with many of the Christians within the area, who inturn accused the governor’s confidant of trying to incite an inter-religious crisis, while the looming resolve the intra-religious crisis regarding who becomes the Chief Imam of the Okene Central Mosque is still hanging.
Some Christians within the area have gone on Facebook to chastise the Chief of Staff for the oblivious remarks asking him to prevent misquoting the Bible and to give more attention in the crisis within the Okene Mosque.
However the Chief of staff on Monday, 26th may had return to the radio station to make clarification on the purported vile remark he was accused of making against the religion of Christianity.
In his statement, Asuku has apologised to the Can President of the Kogi Central Chapter, and the entire Christians for hurting their feelings, and also said that he was only making an analogy using the Christians, to make the Muslims know that they are not allowed to divide their religion into sects as the Christians are allowed and have done.
He also said that he has no got whatsoever to abuse the Christians as the governor is working toward a peaceful coexistence among the multi religious groups in the state, Asuku also said that he had learnt a number of verses from the Bible during his days in the university in a quest to end the rift between the Christians and Muslims who had always been in vicious cycle of misunderstanding and argument.
God bless Kogi.
