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From: LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin
An Islamic group known as Tijaniyyah Movement has attributed persistent acts of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria to activities of extremist Islamic preachers.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Tuesday, Chairman local organising committee (LOC) of 31st Mawlid Anniversary of Sheik Ibrahim Niass taking place in Ilorin, Alhaji Abdulrafiu Ayinla, urged security agencies in the country to arrest and interrogate all Islamic extremists preaching hate doctrines.
He also denied insinuations in some quarters that Tijaniyyah is a sect, adding that the Movement was conceived as a spiritual institution to develop souls of adherents so as to attain spirituality.
Ayinla said no member of the Movement had been involved in crime, adding that it had remained peaceful since it was founded.
“One thing I want to correct is that Tijaniyyah is not a sect. As I said earlier, it is a spiritual institution to develop your soul towards attaining spirituality. That is the reason why in Islam, the Tijaniyyah Sufis are the only Muslim brothers that accommodate any other faiths. Because we believe that everybody is a servant of God whether you are a muslim or Christian, you are not subject to anybody than Allah.
“That is why if you get to police station, you can’t find any record that Tijaniyyah had a clash with other religions. Without fear of contradiction, I can boast of that. All over Nigeria, we have that record.
“We accommodate everybody, any other faith. All those who believe in other faiths or unbelievers, that is their own headache, and police and security officers in Nigeria can easily identify them”, he said.
He also said that the Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State are billed to attend the 31st Maulid anniversary of Sheik Ibrahim Niass in Ilorin.
The four days ceremony, which commences with two days (Wednesday and Thursday) Conference at Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, will attract delegates within and outside the country.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the event, Alhaji Abdulrafiu Ayinla, said President Muhammadu Buhari will be the distinguished Guest of Honour, Saraki (Special Guest of Honour) while Governor Ahmed will be Chief Host.
According to him, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, is the Royal Father of the Day, while Khalifa Abubakar Yusuf Akoeyede, who is also the Grand Khalifa of Tijaniyyah, Kwara State is the host.
Ayinla, who spoke through the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the event, Dr Awwal Baba Taofik, informed that the programme will feature Special Juma’at service on Friday at Ilorin Central Mosque while the grand finale will come up at the Metropolitan Square along Asa-Dam, Ilorin between 10am to 1:30pm.
He said the programme was designed to improve relationship among followers of Niass across the globe and immortalize the late Islamic Scholar.
“The essence of the celebration is to further cement the existing mutual relationship of the adherents of Sheikh Ibrahim Niass all over the world, to immortalize and commemorate the legacy and teachings of the Sheikh and to pray for peaceful co-existence of the entire nation.
“We urge all participating states to remain calm and resolute to the fact maximum security has been provided to ensure that the event record remarkable success”, Ayinla said.
