Northern governors call for religious tolerance

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors' Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, has felicitated with Muslims on the commemoration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

Aliyu said in a statement in Minna on Friday that Muslims should use the occasion to reflect on the teachings and exemplary life of the Holy Prophet.

'Let me join the Muslim Ummah in celebrating the messenger of Allah through whom the Holy Qur'an was revealed to mankind.

'Indeed, the life the prophet lived should always serve as an inspiration to the faithful and his pious life as a model for all of us,' he said.

Aliyu said that Prophet Muhammad and Islam generally preached peace, tolerance, unity and cohesion.

He stressed that the country would enjoy better development when religious difference was put aside, adding that the insurgency can also be put behind through this.

He reiterated that the insurgents were neither representing Islam nor carrying out the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

The statement, however, called on Nigerians to obtain their permanent voters' cards to enable them to choose their leaders. Agency report