US Not Against Islam

[Richard Akindele]

United State of America is not against Muslims but rejects all forms of religious intolerance and grieved whenever there was lost of lives due to religious upheaval, Mr John Campbell has said.

Mr. Campbell, while on a courtesy call at the emir of Bauchi's palace, as part of his three-day visit to Bauchi Tuesday, explained that the United State held Muslims in high esteem and treasured such relationship.

According to him, "while here in your palace, I want to tell the entire Muslim community in Nigeria, through you, that: America treasures your friendship. America honors your faith.

"Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people around the world. This includes millions of American Muslims and Nigerians.

"An important part of America's moral fiber is tolerance. We reject all forms of religious intolerance. And we grieve when people are victims of religious bigotry. I can assure you that Americans stand firmly with Nigerians in opposing those who commit evil in God's name".

Mr. Campbell who eulogised Bauchi State for producing the first and ever Prime Minister of the country, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, said that he is visiting Bauchi state to commission some projects supported by the United State government. According to the Emir, there is no religion that preaches violence and that Muslims and Christians should live together and respect one another for the survival of mankind.

"Muslims and Christians should live together and respect one another, because there is no religion that preaches violence".
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[Richard Akindele]

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. John Campbell has described the Urban and Rural Areas transformation process being embarked upon by the Bauchi State Government as being in tandem with democratic concept across the world.

Campbell who stated this during a courtesy call on the Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu at the Government House, Bauchi, said he was particularly excited with the developmental strides recorded in the Mu'azu administration in the areas of rural development, health and education, and enjoined him to keep up the tempo.

The American envoy who noted that it was in his determination to engage and cultivate relationships between the American government and selected disadvantaged groups in communities in twelve states in the country, that U.S government has donated 130 sewing machines and 900 educational kits to Bauchi State Government.

Campbell said he was also in the sstate to inaugurate the U.S shared future programme, to commission an American corner, to inspect a USAID funded health facility, and to inspect several Bauchi State projects.

He noted that "our shared futures programme seeks to engage and cultivate relationships between the U.S and selected disadvantaged groups in communities in twelve Nigeria States" adding that apart from the donation of 130 Sewing Machines and 900 Educational Kits, "will open the American centre which is a collection of books and multi-media materials about American society".

While commending Governor Mu'azu for executing programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of his people in the State, the Ambassador said that he was "most importantly" in Bauchi to learn and listen to the concerns of the people of the State.

In his remarks, Governor Mu'azu commend the U.S for paying particular attention to the sustenance of the nation's growing democracy, saying that unlike the past when the American Government only contributed to manpower development of the country, now there is a better collaboration.

Mu'azu particularly noted that the State is now enjoying capacity building through the Community Resource Centre established by the U.S calling for more of such collaborations.
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