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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The urge to extend the love of Christmas and promote peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State has prompted a woman of Islamic faith to gift 50 Christian widows food items, clothes and copies of the Holy Bible for the celebrations.
The benefactor, Ramatu Tijjani, said the gesture was meant to put smiles on the faces of the widows and their families and to help them celebrate the season with joy and happiness like the rest of the Christian community around the world.
She also envisioned that the gesture would complement the existing inter-religious peace among the adherents of different faiths in the state.
In her remarks at the distribution ceremony which took place at the Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, Sabon- Tasha, Kaduna, on December 18, 2022, Ramatu stated that she was pushed by the need to impact positively on the lives of these widows, who she stressed, had gone through so much pains and discrimination in the society.
For the past 10 years, according to her, she has been dolling out bags of grains, wrappers and other beverages to Christian widows and orphans during Christmas and Easter celebrations.
Ramatu: “One thing we should always remember is that, we are created by one God and Adam and Eve were our original biological parents. We all have Holy books sent from one God that guide us on the ways to live with peace and harmony.
“Hence, the need to assist widows and orphans during a season like this, irrespective of their tribes, cultures, regions, languages and historical backgrounds.” I want to see widows, orphans and elderly persons at Yuletide smiling and enjoying themselves like any other Christian family during a festive season like this.
“Indeed, taking care of widows is considered a very high form of charity. That is why I always assist them. I feel happy assisting them because there is a huge reward by the Almighty to anyone helping or remembering the needy at anytime, anywhere.
“I want to assure you that with the support from the Almighty God, I will continue to support widows to have a positive outlook on life, despite the problems they experience due to the loss of the breadwinners of the families.”
General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, who spoke on behalf of the widows, appreciated the gestures. He implored other wealthy members of the society to assist the needy during Christmas.
He specially recognised donation of 50 Bibles with the intention and prayer to enable Christians study their Bible very well: “The benefactor used to bail-out Christians at prisons with minor offences for the sole purpose of joining their friends, relations and families to celebrate Christmas and Easter.”
Pastor Buru called on Muslims and Christians to always live in peace and harmony with one another. He appealed to traders and the business community to offer Christmas sales bonanza like it was done in the developed countries.
