Miyetti Allah seeks prayers, unity among Christians, Muslims

• EARCOM wants Nigerians to shun social vices
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in the South East zone led by Alhaji Siddikki Gidado has enjoined Christians to use the Christmas and New Year celebrations to seek unity with their Muslim counterparts.

In his Christmas Message, issued in Awka, Anambra State yesterday, Gidado noted that Jesus Christ, who is well recognised in the Koran as Isa-Al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) is regarded as a great prophet, like Mohammed, founder of the Islamic faith.

Gidado, who observed that among the pillars of Islam are the belief in oneness of God, in all the prophets, of God, angels and last day urged Christian organisations to emulate Jesus (Isa) by praying Nigeria out of the many challenges facing it, including kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency, rape, ethnicity and religious intolerance.

He said the National Chairman and executives of MACBAN deserve commendation “for their commitment to harmonious coexistence between herders and their host communities across the country, saying, “I thank them for trusting our judgments and our counsels in our different zones. “

Besides, Chairman of Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM) in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Dorothy Thompson, has urged citizens to shun all forms of social vices and act responsibly during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

She gave the charge while speaking with reporters on the significance of Christmas in Uyo, adding that the Yuletide was not the season to engage in crime and social vices such as rape, robbery, cultism, violence, drug abuse, prostitution, fraudulent business, excessive drinking and other excesses.

She stressed that the essence of Christmas was all bout showing love as shown by God in giving the world His only son, noting that Jesus Christ came to spread peace, goodwill, reconcile the world with God and save mankind from sin.

Thompson, therefore, urged Christians to reflect on the imageof the humble, symbolic and divine birth of Jesus in the manger and demonstrate love and forgiveness towards one another, stressing that, the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace.