The Enugu State Muslim Community has called for closer partnership with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration in the development of the state.

The Chief Imam of Enugu State, Sheik Zulqarnaini Saeed, made the call at the end of a Muslim faithful stakeholders and Ulamas meeting at the Islamic Centre, Uwani, Enugu, on Sunday.

Saeed said that the Muslim community would continue to support the peace initiative and building process of the state government, adding that the peace he had brought to the state is evidence even in Muslim settlements in the state.

He said: “We will continue to show love to Gov. Ugwuanyi by supporting all his developmental agenda and strives as well as continue as a community to pray for God’s protection, guidance and uplift in his life.

“We Muslims see the Governor as a person with a large and kind heart, who reaches out to everyone irrespective of religion, ethnicity and even political affiliation.

“The community appreciates his support and gifts of love he sends to us during various Islamic festivities and other acts of kinds to us.

“However, we have an advice to give to the governor; we want to seek closer partnership with the governor so that what he gives to the Muslim faithful would get to all Muslim faithful the same time without missing anyone.

“We want to have an audience with him and reveal an effective channel of reach and distribution to him, so that every Muslim faithful will be carried along.

“So, I will appreciate him if he would channel all he has for the Muslim community through the Imams and Ulamas of the state and not the few people he meets in Central Mosque, Owerri Road, Enugu.

“I sincerely believe if he does this, he will be helping the Muslim community and his government as well.”

The Chief Imam also urged the governor to give prior information of his visit to any mosque some days ahead, so that the Ulamas can mobilise Muslims in various council areas in the state to meet him.

“Then, he will know that we are so many and appreciate our numerical strength,” he said.

The Secretary-General of Enugu State Muslim Community, Alhaji Musa Ani, noted that before now, the Islamic Centre in Uwani was the central rallying place for all Enugu State Muslim meetings and affairs.

Ani said that it would be appreciated if everything concerning government and the Muslim community should be done at the centre, “which is sit of the Muslim Ulamas in the state”.

“However, we thank the Governor Ugwuanyi for his good gestures especially sponsorship of faithful to pilgrimage and giving us a sense of belonging in the state,” he said.

The leader of Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Halima Ani, noted that most Muslims had been complaining of governor’s largesse not getting to them in the state.

Ani appealed to the Governor to revert to the use of the Islamic Centre, Uwani in order to ensure equitable distribution of his largesse to all Muslim faithful.

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