Governor-elect Sokoto vows to restore payment of monthly allowances to Imams,others

By Ahmed Isa Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor-elect, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, has promised to restore the payment of monthly stipends to Imams, their deputies and Muazzems suspended by the outgoing PDP-led government in the state in June, this year.

He disclosed this while receiving some Muslim clerics who paid him a sallah homage.

Alhaji Aliyu expressed shock over the suspension of the monthly stipends by the PDP government in the state.

“The monthly stipends were introduced by the Wamakko administration as part of efforts to give Imams, their deputies and Azhans a sense of belonging.

He said: “I wonder how any sensible government would temper with such a magnanimous gesture,” he said.

According to him the contributions of the Imams, their deputies and Azhans in an Islamic society cannot be overemphasized, hence the need to encourage them to do more.

Alhaji Aliyu further assured that as soon as his administration takes full control of the state, come May 29th, the payment of monthly stipends will start immediately.

He further charged Islamic scholars in the state to continue to render selfless service by educating the Muslim Ummah on the true teachings of Islam.

This, he said, becomes imperative in view of the negative perception the followers of other religions have about the religion of Islam.

The governor-elect further reassured his administration’s readiness to support Islamic propagation in the state.

Also on sallah homage were the EZE Tobi Gbaghara Sarkin Igbo lll, some groups from the resident community, religious groups and a retinue of other associations

In their separate speeches, the leaders of the delegations said the groups felicitated tthe governor-elect on this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration,and prayed for the success of the incoming administration.

The governor-elect thanked them for the homage and appealed for fervent prayers for the incoming administration to succeed.