Borno Inaugurates Preaching Board To Checkmate Spread Of Wrong Ideologies

The Borno state government has inaugurated the state Islamic Preaching board that will regulate preaching activities in the state to avoid re-occurrence of misguided preaching’s such as the one that led to Boko Haram insurgency that consumed many lives and property, while over 2 million persons were displaced from their homes.

Governor Kashim Shettima in his address at the occasion said that the establishment of the preaching board became necessary to avoid a repeat of Boko Haram caused by wrong teachings and the spread of false islamic ideology.

The governor stated that the group came out in 2003 at Kanama as Taliban and were defeated by the military, they re-group and attacked Bama and Gwoza in 2004 and were defeated , they regrouped and attacked Panshekara in 2007, regrouped and came out in 2009 and were also defeated by the military they regrouped again in 2013 and 2014 and sacked many local government, we must seek a permanent solution, hence the need to establish the board to curb the spreading of misguided ideology in the state.

He said the government will also establish Tsagaya Regulatory Board to regulate the proliferation of Tsangaya schools and teaching in the state, adding that the influx of of Almajiris need to be regulated to check extremists ideology.

Shettima called on the chairman and members of the committee to bring to bear their experiences to make sure those with bad ideology do not spread them in the name of preaching.

On the Pilgrims Welfare Board, the governor called on the members to work closely with the Amirul Hajj Committee to ensure hitch free 2016 hajj exercise.

The Islamic Preaching Board is to be headed by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim Ahmed, while Sheik Mohammdu Mustapha, Sheik Arabi Abdul Fatahi, Sheik Ali Mustapha, Sheik Ibrahim Mustapha among others are to serve as members.

The Pilgrims Welfare Board has Imam Ali Gapchiya as chairman, with Alhaji Bako Gurantee, Sheik Abubakar Kyari among others as members.

Earlier in his remarks, the state commissioner for Religious Affairs , Alhaji Mustapha Fanarambe thanked the governor for constituting the two important committees, stressing that the constitution of boards indicate the determination of the government to ensure that the emerging peace the state is experiencing does not suffer setback.

He said the pilgrims welfare board inauguration could not have come at a better time, as the 2016 Hajj exercise has commenced, while the maiden airlift of Borno is scheduled to take off on Saturday.

Speaking on behalf of the two Committees, Imam Mohammed Ali Gapchiya commended the state government for inaugurating the committees and called on the governor to also establish a State Council of Ulamas to serve as a spiritual link between the state government and the Ulamas.

He assured the government and people of Borno that they will do their best to ensure that they justify the confidence reposed on them.