Wamakko, Sultan decry begging by indigents, say it’s un-Islamic

Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, have frowned on the increasing rate of begging among indigent persons in the state.

Speaking at a one-day seminar jointly organised by the state Zakat and Endowment Committee and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the governor declared that begging was un-Islamic and not a way of life.

His word: “The act of begging denigrates Islam and the Muslims and it is abhorred by Islam. This menace is prevalent in the core North and it is unbecoming.
“We must tell ourselves the bitter truth. Our people are begging even in some places like churches and beer parlours. This act must be urgently stopped as even the Islamic religion frowns on it and we must live our lives according to Islamic injunctions.”

Wamakko also stated that the state government was willing to admit the almajiri into the 10 boarding primary schools across the state.
 This, he said, was in addition to the thousands of those already being taught at the model almajiri schools in Dange/Shuni and Wamakko local government areas.

The governor stressed the need for the unity of the Muslim community and Nigerians generally. “We must shun all acts of provocation and violence and give top priority to peace, unity and socio-economic prosperity of Nigeria,” Wamakko urged.

Speaking in the same vein, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who chaired the event, wondered why beggars were still flooding the streets of Sokoto.
“This is  in spite of the payment of the monthly allowance each to about 7,000 physically-challenged persons by the state government. This is a heinous act and should be stopped forthwith, as begging is abhorred by Islam,” Abubakar said.

The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji TukurAlkali, urged Islamic clerics to preach the gospel of peace and unity to the people.