Zamfara State Governor Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle (Shettiman Sakkwato) has emerged the second Khadimul Qur’anil Kareem of Nigeria.
The honour and recognition were made by the Centre for Qur’anic Reciters of Nigeria and announced by the National President of the Centre, Gwani Aliyu Salihu Turaki at this year’s annual National Conference of the Centre which held in Gusau, on Sunday.
“Matawalle’s conferment is second to late Sheikh Isiyaka Rabiu who had been the only one until now,” according to a statement by Yusuf Idris Gusau, Director General, Media Public Enlightenment and Communications, Government House, Gusau.
The position according to the National President of the Centre is given to one who puts his energy and resources in the protection, promotion and teaching of the Holy Qur’an.
He noted that ensuring the stoppage of desecration of the Holy Qur’an by bad people who used to throw it in toilets and on the streets, the way the governor handled the Almajiri issue through the differentiation of begging from learning and the creation of the best enabling environment for Qur’anic teaching and learning earned him the position.
He noted that as a decendant of Usmanu Danfodio from the Mu’alliedi family, the Shattiman Sokoto’s actions in this direction did not come as a surprise to the centre.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Bello Mohammed thanked the Centre for finding him worthy of the esteemed position that he will continue to uphold it in a special place in his life.
Matawalle urged Islamic scholars especially the Memorizers of the Holy Qur’an to intensify prayers for the return of total peace in Zamfara State, nothern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
He pointed out that prayers remain the only vital tool the Muslim Umma had in overcoming the present trying moment ranging from kidnapping, cattle rustling, boko haram and other criminalities.
Matawalle who swore by the Holy Qur’an before the gathering that he has nothing to do with the banditry in the state challenged political and traditional leaders too in the state to come forward and publically swear by the Holy Qur’an that they do not have anything to do with armed banditry in any part of the country.
He then donated an 18-seater bus to the centre to facilitate the logistics needs of the members.
Also in his remarks, Sultan Saad Abubakar lll who was represented by the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed Asha congratulated the governor over the supreme Islamic award.
The Sultan commended the governor in creating an enabling environment for Islamic Scholars, memories, learners and above all, the integration of Almajiri schools into Western system.
He also endorsed the governor’s proactive measures in tackling insecurity in the state.
The occasion also witnessed another donation of an 18-seater bus by the state’s branch of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) to the centre.
This year’s event has the topic of the conference as “the Importance of Prayers in Resolving Nigeria’s Intractable Problem “.
The conference was attended by the Speaker Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasiru Maazu Magarya, Honourary adviser to the governor on inter governmental affairs, Hon. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi (Wamban Shinkafi), Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Chief of Staff Government House, Col Bala Mande rtd, Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Bashir Mohammed Maru, Commissioners, Local government sole administrators, Emirs and Permanent Secretaries among others.
