Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia last Saturday set a new standard when he declined to deliver a speech as a special guest of the ceremony to end the annual Ramadan commentary of the Holy Quran by the National Chief Imam at the Abossey Okai Central Mosque.
The religious ceremony, important as it is in the diary of the Chief Imam, expectedly attracted important personalities from the Islamic community to the facility.
The Vice-President’s action was in deference to the religious activity which should not be blended with issues outside the spiritual sphere, adding also through the spokesman of the National Chief Imam that he was at the ceremony as a Muslim, part of the congregation and so should be treated as such.
No wonder he asked all to be seated and concentrate on the faith activity rather have it disrupted by protocol. Many who observed his arrival and his action could not overlook the humility he exhibited even as the Number Two Citizen of the country.
Many also remembered the record he set when for the first time in the history of the annual celebration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet of Islam by the Chief Imam, he sat throughout the activity at the New Fadama school park.
The National Chief Sheikh, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, in his sermon asked Muslims to shun envy and explained that when one prays to God to bestow upon them what he has done others that is not envy. When however there is a deliberate attempt at causing others to lose what God has given them that in his narration is envy which is abhorred by God.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Office of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Awaisu Bio, commended government for various initiatives it has rolled out pointing at especially the streamlining of Arabic education, the free SHS, the establishment of the Nation Builders Corps and the Planting for Food and Jobs, amongst other initiatives.
“In our estimation these policies are intended to help increase the rate of literacy, ensue equity in the future national development agenda, correct the imbalances in the current development space and promote self-reliance in agriculture as well as other areas of governance,” he said.
He prayed for God’s blessings for the projects so that they would succeed in the supreme interest of the nation.
The Vice-President was accompanied by a member of Council Of State, Engineer Aminu Amadu, Deputy Energy Minister, Amin Adam, Zongo and Inner City Minister, Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Ms. Aisha Salifu, Deputy CEO Zongo Development Fund ,Dr. Yunus Mohammed aka Dr. Oluman, Technical Adviser to the Vice-President, amongst others.
By A.R. Gomda