Dogara commiserates with Akwa Ibom over church collapse
…Tasks Muslims on Prayers for the Nation
Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the people and government of Akwa Ibom state over the death of over 50 Christian worshippers who died when the church building they were worshipping in collapsed in Uyo the state capital on Saturday.
This is as he has admonished Muslim faithful to see the Eid Maulud celebration as a time to pray for the country.
The Speaker in separate press releases and signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hassan Turaki, described the Akwa Ibom incidence as great tragedy that has befallen the nation.He called for a thorough and comprehensive investigations into the immediate and remote causes of the collapse of the church building.
The government department responsible for approving and enforcing building plans must also be brought to book to avoid future occurrences.
While praying for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and quick recovery of the injured, Dogara commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for staying back to personally supervise the rescue operation despite being among the rescued persons from the horrible incidence.
Meanwhile, Dogara has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of 2016 Eid Maulud to mark the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker charged the Muslim faithful to use the occasion of the remembrance and celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed to imbibe and promote the virtues of humility, love, peace, harmony and mutual co-existence which the prophet exemplified.
He noted that as this year’s Eid-el-Maulud comes just a couple of weeks before the end of the year 2016, Muslims and all Nigerians should seize the opportunity to offer special prayers for the unity, progress and prosperity of Nigeria and for the country to overcome its current economic challenges as we march into the new year.
“Maulud Nabiyy is a special period that calls for sober reflections and special prayers to the Almighty for our leaders at all levels for God’s wisdom and guidance.”
“We must also put aside our ethnic, religious and political differences and come together to build a more united and peaceful country.”
“I therefore enjoin us all to put the past behind us and forge a new path of greatness and prosperity”, the speaker admonished.
