By Ishola Balogun

Muslims in the South-West under the umbrella of the Joint Muslims’ Action Forum (JOMAF) have called for Sovereign National Conference (SNC), through which a true Constitution would emerge.

The Forum at its maiden public progamme in Osogbo, the Osun State capital at the weekend tagged “The Nation Prays,” was of the view that “it is through true constitution that restructuring of the polity that will guarantee equal rights of the citizenry would be achieved.”

The event, held at the open field of the Government Technical College was attended by clerics across the zone, traditional rulers, Islamic organisations, students and youths organizations.

Prof. Lakin Akintola of the Lagos State University (LASU), and The Nation newspapers columnist, Dr. Femi Abbas who were among the guest speakers on the occasion asserted that “calling for and demanding for rights peacefully is not a sin.

The duo urged those in authorities to create an enabling environment through which rights could be demanded unhindered to allow for peace and tranquility in the country.

The gathering seized the opportunity to demand for using of Hijab (head scarf) by female Muslim students in all public schools, Hijrah public holiday, teaching of morals in schools as well as adequate representation of Muslims in public offices in accordance with their populations in various states.

From left: Alhaji Kola Usaamot, JOMAF Chairman, Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Hon Muhammed Ibrahim during a progamme tagged “The Nation Prays,” organised by the Joint Muslims’ Action Forum (JOMAF) at Government Technical College, Osogbo recently.

While praying for peace, progress and development of the country, Dr Abbas urged Nigerian to work toward achieving the aforementioned, saying “it would amount to hypocrisy for people to pray for peace and at the same time behave in a manner capable of breaching the peace.”

The gathering thereafter threw their weights behind the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on state policies that they said were in conformity with divine injunctions that harped on equal rights for the citizenry, promising their continued support to the governor in as much as he governed well and gave everybody his rights.

Earlier in his remark, JOMAF Chairman, Alhaji Kola Usaamot urged the government to look into the appointment of teachers, lamenting the dearth of Islamic Studies teachers across board.

“We wonder who will teach our students Religious Knowledge when those who are to teach the subject teachers are not recruited,” he said.

Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad urged Aregbesola to ensure rights of citizens are always protected irrespective of political and religious affiliations.

He said citizens demand for their rights should not be seen as public disturbance.

“The continuous demand of rights by the Muslims should not be seen as act of militancy because we have been civil enough in going about it and we never close the chapter of dialogue to achieve this purpose,” he said.

Prof Akintola chided government inconsistency in tackling AIDS scourge.

“How can a government that is sincere in prevention of further spread of the deadly disease be encouraging naked dressing and forbid usage of hijab in schools,” he said.

In his response, Governor Aregbesola expressed appreciation to the gathering, assuring them that he would not relent in his efforts at giving every citizen his due as dictated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His administration, he said, is poised to implement policies that would uplift the state and the nation at large. He enjoined them to continue praying for the country.

Bad leadership, bane of Nigeria’s devt —Sheikh Lawal
The spiritual Head and National Co-ordinator, AS-SALAM Praying Centre, Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman-Adegboyega Lawal has identified bad leadership at all levels of governments as the major problem militating against the socio-economic and political development of the country.

The renowned Islamic preacher called on Almighty Allah not to allow the disintegration of the country, and to forgive us our national sins, shower mercies on us and guide the country aright.

Speaking at a special prayer organized by the Praying Centre at Abdul-Rahman Central Mosue Ibadan, held recently, Lawal urged Nigerian leaders in this democratic dispensation emulate the leadership quality and style of the pre-independence leaders whose vision in their own time were to be servants-leaders by piloting the affairs of the state with utmost honest and transparency.

Achieving peace via Islam
By Harun Rasaq

Islam means peace and total submission to the will of Allah. Islam is a religion of truth for the benefit of mankind. It regulates how we can achieve peace in this world and eternal success in the hereafter.  The religion provides solution for all human psychological ailments and spiritual ache. Paradoxically, it has been turned into both as opium and poison in the world today and Nigeria in particular with no effective cure in sight.

The major cause of the present day Muslim problems is that they did not submit themselves to the full course of Islam. It must be noted that some of the country or state that proclaimed Shariah as a state law are not excepted as they still manipulate some aspects of shariah.

It is undisputed fact among those who are familiar with history that Islam brought about peace, progress to Muslims in the past era because they followed all the tenets of the religion to the latter. Several verses of Qur’an stressed that the promise of Allah are for believers. It is observed from the history of Islam that the level to which Muslims practice Islam determines the level of their enjoyment. Allah says in the Qur’an that: If you help Allah’s (cause) you will be helped…. It is on record that Allah fulfilled His promise of assistance on earliest Muslim and those that followed them.

For example when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was raised as a prophet, there were challenges raging from idol worshiping, insecurity, poverty to bad governance, among others. But when the people accepted Islam, all these challenges were removed.