Senator Makarfi

Senator Aruwa

Femi Adi/ Kaduna

Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (also a former Kaduna State governor) and Senator Ahmed Mukhtar Aruwa alongside other Muslim leaders, today attended the Sunday Church service of the Evangelical Church of West Africa ECWA Gospel Church Lemu Road, Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna State.

Though Governor Nasir El-Rufai was not physically present at the church service, he sent in his apologies and commendation for the gesture through his representative, Mr. Iliya Kudan, Director Religious Affairs. El-Rufai, in his remark, urged Christians and Muslims in the state to pray and support the efforts of government to move the state forward and make Kaduna State great again.

Similarly, in their separate speeches, Senators Makarfi, Aruwa and other Muslims leaders commended the efforts of the ECWA church leadership at uniting people of different religious divides and urged others to follow suit. According to Makarfi and Aruwa, religious groups and traditional leaders must endeavour to promote religious tolerance and interaction for peace to reign in the society.

In his welcome address, the Senior Pastor of the church, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, said the church was practically building on the peaceful and religious coexistence which was laid by Senator Makarfi when he was the governor of the state. He said what the church did today is an evidence that it is possible for Christians and Muslims to live and coexist amicably. “This is the second time we are calling on our Muslim brothers and friends to fellowship with us and they have always obliged us and we appreciate them for responding whenever we have need to call on them,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the religious and traditional leaders, Alhaji Shaibu Abdullahi Nadabo who is the Sarkin Dutse in whose domain the Church is located also harped on the need for peaceful coexistence. He called on all to strive at all times to be his or her brother’s keeper, stressing that ECWA church has continued to set a pace worthy of emulation by all.

At the end of the church service, all the guests and church members ate together as a symbol of love and unity.