Jonathan on Islamic Affairs, said on Wednesday that Nigeria would
sustain its existing ties with Saudi Arabia.
Umar, who made the promise in Abuja during a visit to the embassy of
Saudi Arabia, said that he undertook the visit on the directive of
President Jonathan.
He said that there was no better time than now to convey the
president's message to the Saudi representative in Nigeria.
Umar described Nigeria's relations with Saudi Arabia as cordial, and
promised that the ties would be sustained.
He described Saudi Arabia as very strategic in the area of Islamic
affairs and education, saying that it was always ready to defend the
interests of Islam in the world.
The aide also described Jonathan as a peace loving person "who is ever
ready to do anything within his powers to promote peace in the
country".
"This is the more reason he created the Office of the Senior Special
Assistant on Islamic Affairs with a view to advising him on such
issues," he said.
Umar said that the anti-gay law recently signed by the president was a
pointer to his commitment to the development of Nigeria.
He said the president also mandated him to organise many programmes
geared toward national integration, social cohesion and even those
that involved international Islamic activities.
He said that such mandate also enabled him to organise seminars and
workshops to enlighten the Muslim faithful on the right teachings of
Islam.
He said that seminars and workshops would also pave way in ensuring
peaceful co-existence among the different religions in the country and
beyond.
Umar, however, reminded the Saudi Arabian ambassador that religion was
a portent weapon to reduce most social problems and urged him to
assist in that regard.
Responding, the ambassador, Mr Fuad Rajeh, expressed confidence in his
country's relations with Nigeria, and promised to continue to
strengthen such relations to the benefit of the two countries.
Rajeh promised that his country would assist Nigeria in tackling the
security challenges facing it and in the area of education, among
others.
According to the ambassador, the Saudi government has so far given
about 250 scholarships to Muslims and 18 Christian sisters to study in
Saudi Arabia.
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