The Cross River State Government has joined Muslim communities across the state in holding special prayers for peace, unity, and progress simultaneously in all the eighteen local government areas.
The prayer session, which took place during Friday prayers, was observed at the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Calabar and other designated mosques across the state.
Speaking shortly after the prayer in Calabar, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, described Cross River State as a peaceful and inclusive state where residents, regardless of their states of origin or religious affiliation, coexist without bias.
Ekpang, conveying the message of Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, assured non-indigenes living in the state of their safety and continued peaceful coexistence.
“Many of you were born here and have married among us, making us one people. For decades, Muslims and indigenes of Cross River State have lived peacefully together, and this harmony must be sustained,” he said.
The commissioner, however, urged Muslim communities to remain security-conscious by identifying and reporting suspicious individuals, stressing the need for proper registration of newcomers to prevent criminal activities.
In his remarks, the Chief Imam of the Ahmadiyya Mosque, Calabar, Alhaji Akere Abdulhafeez, explained that the prayer was organized to promote peace in the state and to seek divine guidance for the government and its leaders.
“As Muslims, we have a responsibility to contribute positively to the wellbeing of the society in which we live. That is why we organized this prayer for the peaceful coexistence of the state,” he said.
Alhaji Abdulhafeez added that prayers were also offered for a peaceful and hitch-free Christmas celebration, noting the importance of mutual respect among people of different faiths.
Muslim communities across the eighteen local government areas reaffirmed their commitment to peace, unity, and loyalty to the Cross River State Government, expressing satisfaction with the cordial relationship they enjoy with the state authorities.
Cross River holds prayer sessions for peace in 18 LGAs
