BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, his Ogun counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, yesterday prayed to God to expose the sponsors of Boko Haram in the country.

Sultan Abubakar, who spoke alongside other prominent Nigerians at the commissioning of the New Aiyepe Central Mosque at Ijebu-Aiyepe, in Ogun State, said Nigerians had a long history of peaceful co-existence irrespective of tribe and religion.

The Sultan, who insisted that Islam was a religion of peace, wondered how the Boko Haram insurgents were trying to create hatred between Muslims and Christians in the country, saying “It is important to respect another person’s religion. You do not decide who is right or wrong. That should be left for Allah.”

Oba Adetona, who chaired the event, lamented the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by the insurgents and prayed to God to bring an end to their activities.

He said, “There is no house or family in the south west that you do not have Muslims and Christians as members of the households and we live in peace. We do not discriminate because we are brothers.”

On his part, Governor Amosun while urging the insurgents to desist from killings or face the wrath of God, said the gathering which had non-Muslims in attendance, again demonstrated peaceful co-existence among different faiths.

Similarly, Governor Aregbesola, urged Nigerians to continue to be united and not give in to those who wanted to destroy the peaceful atmosphere enjoyed by Nigerians for years.