Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party on Monday celebrated the Eid-el-Fitr with the Muslim community in Awka, the capital town of Anambra.
Obi, who donated food items including bags of rice, cartons of noodles, non alcoholic drinks and cash, said religion was supposed to unite Nigerians more than dividing them.
He said every human was equal under God but regretted that some politicians had decided to weaponise it for personal gains and at the detriment of society.
Obi thanked the Awka Muslim community for inviting him for their Sallah celebration while promising to assist in completing the Central Mosque project.
I want to thank you for your support and also for inviting me, it has made me know that work is ongoing here, we shall be part of it and ensure that it is completed.
“Like I always say, Nigeria is one, Nigeria is united, what our children want are good education, good health and good jobs.
“Nobody, including the politicians that use religion to divide us, enjoys special market price, roads or security, so when they want to use religion to convince you, ask them how it affects you specially, we are one people under one God,” he said.
Peter Obi expressed worry over the safety of Nigerians trapped in war-torn Sudan and called on the Federal Government to do all it could to rescue them unhurt.
He said they were Nigerians whose safety should be the priority of the government while also urging private citizens to assist in the effort.
On why he had continued to tour the country instead of taking post-electioneering rest, Obi said politics was not about contesting election but relating with the people and helping to make their lives better.
“I have returned to my normal life of reaching out to people, those who wish to take some rest should do so,” he said.
Responding, the leaders of Arewa Community in Awka, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and National Council of Islamic Affairs NCIS in Awka, appreciated Obi for the good relationship they had with his administration when he was governor.
Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, Southeast Zonal Chairman of MACBAN, said Obi was a time tested detribalised and religiously accommodating person during his days as Anambra governor and after.
Siddiki recalled how Obi visited and donated money for the reconstruction of Central Mosque Onitsha and how northerners, including himself, got agriculture loans under this administration.
“You approved the loan, you signed it but you did not know me.
“So when we hear them talk about how Peter Obi is bad to us, we wonder who they are talking about. We want to tell the world that what they are issuing is not true, you are a true lover of Muslims,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Bello Shelleng, Secretary of National Council for Islamic Affairs, Anambra, said as Governor, Obi supported Muslims and sponsored a good number of them to Hajj.
“I can not forget you because you are the one who sponsored me to Hajj, you sponsored the highest number of pilgrims in Anambra.
“So, we are in the right position to tell the world who you are, we are very happy to have you around,” he said.
A youth, Abdullahi Haruna, said he owed his academic exposure to the benevolence of Obi.
Haruna said the free education he enjoyed at the primary and secondary school level relieved his parents of the burden and laid the foundation for who he was today.
