*No Islamic organisation should experience what we passed through— Barr Ojelade
*Urges other organisations to eschew bitterness

By Haroon Balogun

The President of Anwar-ul Islam Movement of Nigeria, Alhaji Mubashir Ojelade has said he did not pray any Islamic organisation should go through what the Movement went through in the last seven years, stating that it was a miracle that the movement did not break.

President Buhari

Barrister Ojelade said the group is solidly united now, urging leaders at all levels of government, to be selfless and fully committed to the common interest of the people.

Ojelade stated this while fielding question from newsmen during the inaugural prayer to usher in the newly executive held at its Central Mosque, Ojo-Giwa, Lagos recently.

He stated that the pathway to the reconciliation and the creation of the new national executives was set in June and July 2016, when the parties after series of meetings and consultations agreed to settle internal disputes and withdraw all court cases after years of turmoil.

According to him, “I can tell you that the movement is solidly united. We are 95 percent united and whatever  that is left,  this administration will do everything possible to bring them back as part  of ways to consolidate on this reconciliation process. We are not interested in probes or anything the previous administration had done. This is the consensus of members because we don’t want to generate another crisis.

“Without any gainsaying, unity makes any group more solid, you will be able to tap the mercy of Allah. There is no such benefit in being factionalised. It is better you galvanized all strength and potentials for the growth of the mission.

On the state of the nation, he described it as unpleasant situation. “There is an urgent need to fix the economy; something has to be done urgently to fix the economy. No doubt, the Buhari-led administration has made some progress in the areas of security and anti-corruption war.  But if care is not taken, the present economic situation will erode the gains recorded in the areas of insecurity and anti-corruption. So, government must pay attention to this area.

“Buhari must also rejig his cabinet and take a second look at the personnel handling the economy. It is either there is problem with the personnel or the strategy is bad or both. So, government needs to act fast.

He stated that in spite of the harsh economic realities, there is still appreciable level of trust in this administration that things will get better.

He urged all Muslim organizations to eschew bitterness and embrace love, sincerity, trust, tolerance and understanding to avoid the kind of crisis the movement went through in the last seven years.

According to Barrister Ojelade, it was a miracle to some of us that the movement did not break. No organization should go through what we passed through. To avoid that, we need to understand our religion, and follow the Quran and hadiths. Once you have crisis, it will distract you from your main goal of service to Allah and humanity. Islamic organizations should avoid lust for power, leaders must emerge naturally from the system without any subjective manipulations.

He however urged leaders at all levels, to be selfless and fully committed to the common interest of the people.