Yelutide: Christian Widows to Smile as Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Donates Foodstuffs, Wrappers for Celebration.

Yelutide: Christian Widows to Smile as Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Donates Foodstuffs, Wrappers  for Celebration.

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, North-West, NIGERIA

Widows at the church of Christ Evangelical and life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha Kaduna are to have a joyous celebration as Hajiya Ramatu Tijani in the spirit of oneness donated foodstuffs and wrappers to them for Christmas.

The gesture she said was part of efforts to strengthen and boost peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among different faith based organization in Nigeria.

Islam she said is a religion of peace and love and that is why, “I want to see widows, orphans and elderly persons at yuletide season smiling and enjoying themselves like any other Christian family during a season like this.” She said

According to her, more wrappers and foodstuff will also be shared to other churches in Kaduna and other neighboring states.

Describing the gesture as her personal efforts, Ramatu said with love and better understanding existing among Muslims and Christians, all forms of  ethno-religious and political crises bedeviling peace and stability in the northern  region of Nigeria would be a thing of the past.,

“I am supporting the Christian widows in other to celebrate the seasons with joy and happiness with their orphans; having enough food and new clothes to wear like any other Christians world-wide.

“I am targeting over 200  poor Christian widows across Kaduna and some northern states including those at the Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps  at North –Eastern Nigeria including the less-privileged in the society. She informed..

Asked why she has decided to engage in such humanitarian work, the northern based Peace Ambassador, Ramatu has this to say.

“I enjoy helping widows and elderly persons and their children at all times and it is my hope that this would help to put smiles on their faces. By supporting them, it would  reduce the hardship most of them face in their communities especially during a season like this. Muslims and Christians coexisting peacefully would pave way for sustainable development.

“We must remember that we are created by one God and that all of us are from one root, Adam and Eve. We all have holy books by one God. We are brothers and sisters; we believe in paradise and hell. Then we must support each other to live in peace and harmony.”  She added.

Expressing concern over inmates yet to be released, she said,

“I wish I have enough money, I would have bailed over Hundred Christian inmates to go home and celebrate Christmas with their  friends, relatives and families like what Pastor Yohanna does at the beginning of every Ramadan when he frees Muslims prisoners.to go and join their families in the Rahmadan fast.

To further promote tolerance, unity and inter religious dialogue amongst all, Ramatu had called on the federal Government to create  an  institutes of comparatives studies in the country.

The creation of comparative studies centre she noted will held to facilitate the teachings and understanding of the holy books thereby helping to put an end to the ethno-religious crisis that is setting the entire northern Nigeria backward.

Traditional and religious bodies she urged must  work together to established context-relevant peace infrastructure as well as conduct regular and periodic review of early warning information  in order to enhance peaceful co-existence

While commending the effort of Observatoire pharos in france for helping African in promoting peace mission, she also appreciated the effort of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung from Germany and United state institute of peace for promoting religious tolerance in Africa

According to mother Terase,  “Peace begins with a smile” . As peace ambassador,  I am at the church today to put smiles on the faces of all Christian widows  this Christmas season. Last year l visited CAN Headquarter Kaduna and gave a Chrismas tree which l hope to do same this time around too.

Responding the General Overseer of the church Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed satisfaction and called on wealthy individuals, corporate bodies ,Government, NGOs and CSOs to always remember the widows and other needy in the society so as to reduce the pains they usually go through trying to put food on the table for their orphans.

Commending hajiya Ramatu’s efforts pastor Buru said, this was not her first time and that  last 2 years she distributed foodstuff to widows and  that during the Lenten season, she also brought cartoons of beverages and other food items for breaking the fast.

Pastor Buru while calling on Kaduna  philanropists to stop extravagant waste of money  and always help the poor and the   needy in the society charged Muslims and Christians to always live together in peace and harmony  .while appealing to Marketers regardless of religion to offer Christmas bonanza like what developed countries usually do to their citizens.