Yesterday, Sokoto state Governor Aliyu Wamakko, together with his
Bauchi state counterpart Alhaji Isa Yuguda each distributed N5million
to Igbo natives who converted to Islam. Imo state Governor Rochas
Okorocha and former Governor of Abia state Orji Uzor Kalu gave N2
million and N1million respectively to the converts.
The event took place in Abuja’s National Mosque.
The converts, young men beteween 25 and 35 years, described Islam as a
“truthful, peaceful and charitable faith.”
The new Muslim converts are 17 Igbos, one Yoruba, and a Northern Hausa
Christian: Chief Suleiman Nwachukwu, Ibrahim Uchenna Ukah, Muhammad
Sani Stanley Uziogwe, Bello Kelvin Nmadu, Habibullah Kosoro Ofolete,
Jamilu Osita Agocha, Haruna Chichebem Nwabirika, Abdulazeez Paschal
Iroegbulam, Suleiman Ifeanyi Uzoma, Adam Nduka Nweko, Dawuda Nnaemeka
Uzoma, Aliyu Prince Onyekwume and Musa (Anayo) Adugbaa, all of Imo
state. Others are Abdulmalik Bongo Edet (Cross River), Hassan Babalola
Shegun (Ondo), Nasir Peter Ndubisi (Anambra) and Bashir Prince Dulla
(Akwa Ibom).
“I was attracted to Islam because of the truth it resonated in me, and
I saw the charity of the faith which all its adherents find peace and
solace in,” said Ibrahim Ukah, formerly Uchenna Ukah, a younger
brother of a fellow convert, Tobechi Ukah, now Abdullahi Ukah.
The Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Sheik Musa Muhammed
administered the Oath of Sha’adah on the converts and pronouncing
their newly adopted Muslim names during the weekly Jumat Khutbah
(Sermon).
All the converts were unanimous in affirming to the beauty of Islam as
well as the virtues seen in Muslims. They told the Imam that they were
attracted by such qualities to Islam.
The new converts also commended the Chairman of the Council of Village
Heads in Imo State, Chief Musa (Sylvester) O. Dimunah, who accepted
Islam in January this year. They also commended a former secretary of
the council and the executive secretary of Justice Mamman Nasir’s
Islamic Centre for Peace and Research, Alhaji Ibrahim Biobo Nlomije,
who they said facilitated their conversion.
Alhaji Nlomije said the acceptance of Islam by the newly converts was
an attestation that Islam is not a sectional religion. He said such
conversion attests to the achievement of the Justice Nasir’s Centre,
which among others, deepens religious tolerance and opens more
opportunities for non-Muslims to embrace Islam.