Apparently confused by the spate of insecurity occasioned by the activities of the Islamist insurgents, Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan has enlisted the support of Senegalese Muslim Clerics.
On the invitation of the President, about 10 Senegalese Mallams stormed the Presidential Villa on Saturday to pray for President Jonathan and Nigeria over insecurity.
The Clerics, were led by Khalifah Sheikh Ahmad Tijani Inyass, the grandson of late Shehu Tijani Ibrahim Inyass, the founder of the Tijjaniya sect.
They met the President for about an hour at the First Lady’s Conference Room where they offered prayers for an end to the security challenges facing Nigeria as well as peace and stability in the country.
Also present at the meeting were the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Chief of Staff to the President, Brigadier General Jones Arogbofa (rtd); the Head of Service, Bukar Goni Aji; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke; the Minister of State for Health, Khaliru Alhassan; the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; and the Moiinister of State for Agriculture, Asmau Mohammed, among others.
It was gathered that the clerics were actually in Nigeria to attend the Maulud celebration of Ibrahim Inyass Gombe but were invited to the State House by the President Jonathan for spiritual support.
The spokesman for the group, Ahmed Tijani Sanni Alwalu, while speaking with State House correspondents, said it was a historic meeting, recalling that former Heads of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon and late JTU Aguiyi- Ironsi, had in the past invited the sect to pray for the country.
Alwalu’s words: “It is a historic visit because it has been done by his father with the then President, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and Gen. Aguyi Ironsi, so the history is repeating itself and we came for the Maulud of Ibrahim Inyass Gombe and on our way going home, the President requested for a courtesy visit and our Shehu granted it.
“We must come together, all Muslims and non- Muslims, to achieve peaceful co- existence.
“We must pray so that we can all fight this insecurity in this country.
“The main purpose of coming here is part of the prayers for peace in this country.”
Also on the delegation were Sheikh Muhammadul Makky Inyass, Sheikh Mansur Inyass, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Inyass, Sheikl Bashir Inyass, Inyass Mustapha Inyass, Abdullahi Muhammad Maigemu, Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Aliyu Ibrahim and Khalifah Shehu Nasiru Hamisu among others.
Earlier, President Jonathan had met with Malian President, Muhammadou Keita, in continuation of series of meetings aimed at solving the problems of insurgency in northern Mali and north-eastern Nigeria.
“I have come to meet my brother, on the issue of insecurity to see what we can do, that is why I’m here this morning. I came to meet my brother I’m also grateful to him and Nigerian people for their warmth reception since I came into Abuja and good luck to Nigerians,” the Malian leader told correspondents
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