“We are here in solidarity with [internally displaced persons], to celebrate the Sallah with them, to strengthen the fact that they are no less important than those who were not affected by the insurgency, to reaffirm our commitment to the resettlement of IDPs." - Governor Kashim Shettima
Hundreds of Konduga residents who recently resettled to their town after spending years in exile held their first Eid Mubarak prayer in three years on Monday.
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was received at the prayer by the Chairman of Konduga local government area, Audu Ladan.
Dignitaries accompanying the governor included Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Senator Babakaka Bashir Garbai, and Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, among others.
"Konduga is not more important to us than…any other part of the State where our citizens have returned,” Mr. Shettima said
“We chose Konduga because of its proximity to Maiduguri, given the fact that some of those working with me need to go back [to Maiduguri] and slaughter their rams. They also need time with their families, while we have other activities scheduled at the Government House in Maiduguri,” he explained.
The governor’s decision to hold the Eid Mubarak prayer outside of Maiduguri marks the first time a sitting Borno State governor has done so.
“We are here in solidarity with [internally displaced persons], to celebrate the Sallah with them, to strengthen the fact that they are no less important than those who were not affected by the insurgency, to reaffirm our commitment to the resettlement of IDPs.
“We came to share this moment with them and to also reassure them that we wouldn't have allowed them to return to Konduga if it was classified unsafe. This is why we are here with them. We are determined to restore the dignity of our people, to reinstall civil authority, to rebuild their schools, hospitals, markets and homes so they can return to safe homes. I want to reiterate that we will not allow our citizens to return to unsafe communities,” Mr. Shettima said.
The two-raka’at prayer was led by the Imam Eidaini of Konduga, Imam Goni Lawan, and thereafter prayers were offered for the lasting of peace in the nation.
