Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians to evolve a standard process of electing not only eligible candidates but also suitable ones.
This is contained in a communique of the special extraordinary meeting of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC) of the NSCIA held last Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the forum, the eligibility criteria for leadership are too general to the extent that unsuitable people ultimately get elected to the positions of authority.
“In essence, there is an urgent need to raise the bar of leadership in Nigeria beyond basic qualifications,” the communique jointly signed by Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, Secretary General, NSCIA; and Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, Director of Administration, NSCIA said.
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The meeting presided over by Sultan Abubakar III, was also attended by Muslim leaders across the country including the Deputy President General, NSCIA (South), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr. Khalid Aliyu; Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Muslih Yahaya; many Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs); senior academics; traditional rulers; top executives; other eminent personalities and leaders of Islamic organisations from different parts of the country.
The committee also urged Muslims to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying evidence revealed that many Muslims who registered are yet to collect their cards.
“Nigerians should freely choose the best candidates and vote those who will lead with justice, fairness and righteousness in line with our usual prayer, ‘O Allah, make the best of us our leaders, and don’t make the worst of us our leaders. Don’t make us, on account of our sins, be under those who will neither fear you nor be compassionate to us.
“The Federal Government should ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible general elections in 2023 by providing the necessary environment through adequate voter mobilisation and appropriate security measures,” the forum said.
It also urged more Muslims to establish private universities for the educational development of Nigeria as a whole and Islam in particular because Muslim students in some private universities owned by non-Muslims are being subjected to religious victimisation and oppression.
It said, “The Supreme Court of Nigeria had affirmed the legality, legitimacy and rights of Muslims to hijab in compliance with Section 38, Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended in 2011) which states, “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…(either alone or in community with others, and in public and or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching practice and observance.
“Therefore, Muslim women should feel free to wear their hijab and no person or institution should discriminate against them.”
The committee also condemned the negative activities of ‘accidental imams’ and ‘emergency sheikhs’ who promote hatred, disunity and dissension in their mosques and on the social media, warning Muslims to be wary of their antics as they do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The council urged the federal government to make available financial empowerment opportunities in the country and to tackle poverty and unemployment in the society, enjoining Muslims to key into the available opportunities.
They said, “As Muslims are being profiled and killed in what appears as ethno-religious cleansing in the South East by some non-Muslims which is evident in the recent confessions by some individuals, the committee called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and properties of Muslims and bring the perpetrators of such killings to justice.
“The committee expressed serious concern about the general insecurity manifesting in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and ritual killings all over country. It also called on the federal and state governments to work harder on securing Nigeria from the rampaging criminals.”
They also commended retired General Buba Marwa for the excellent job he is doing at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and urge government at all levels to provide more equipment and morale boosting programmes to support the agency in its strategic mission.
“It should be noted that there is high correlation between drug abuse and violent crimes, including kidnapping and banditry, being witnessed in the country.
“Parents, Muslims in particular, should be watchful of their children, spouses and relatives. They should not hesitate or feel ashamed at any time to expose any drug abuser for timely attention.”
The committee also expressed sadness over the death of some Muslim sisters who were involved in a ghastly accident in Shagamu, Ogun State, on their way to a training programme.
“The committee commiserated with the late sisters’ families, their organisation and the Muslim ummah at large while praying that Allah admit the deceased to Aljannah Firdaos and grant the injured complete recovery,” it said.
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