Members of the Shurafa Forum of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have called on the Kaduna State government to reverse the ban placed on the movement.
The state government under former Governor Nasir el-Rufai, in October 2016, issued an order declaring IMN unlawful.
It said the action was taken for peace and security in the state, as well as to ensure that all persons and organisations were guided by lawful conduct.
But the Chairman, Publicity Committee of IMN, Aliyu Sani, said the movement’s aim was to deliver the message of Prophet Muhammad; hence, it should not be banned.
He said: “Since the 2015 incident in Zaria, we have been unable to conduct a lot of our activities because of the wrong perception that people have of us. This is the first celebration since the incident and we hope to continue the good work we have been doing.”
He then called on the Federal Government to release their leader unconditionally and allow him to go back to his normal life, adding: “They cannot stop the will of Allah.”
On his part, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Muhammad Saidu, said the celebration was informed by the need to promote peaceful coexistence among Muslim faithful and emphasise the need for them to adhere to the teaching of Muhammad.
He called on Muslims to imbibe the teachings of Muhammad in their daily lives, adding: “If we had been following the teachings of the prophet, we will not have found ourselves in the problems we are in today, such as the killings and other forms of criminality.”
Also, a member of the forum, Lubabatu Alhassan, called on women to increase their patience and prayers amid the hardship in the country.
She urged women to imbibe the qualities of the prophet’s first wife, Sayyida Fatima, especially how she was able to support her husband in difficult times. “They should also be very prayerful and give their children the best counselling possible that will get them through life.”
