By Haroon L Balogun

Coordinator of Muslims Ummah Foundation (MUF), Ustaz Nurudeen Miftaudeen Adigun in this interview with Facing Ka’abah speaks on the leadership of Nigerian Muslim Community.  The MUF leader, who is passionate about charity and education for the Nigerian youths and women, said the present leadership of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria led by Sultan Abubakar III, has proved blackmailers of Islam and Muslims wrong as, according to him, the image of Muslims is now restored. Excerpts:

ABOUT  Muslims Ummah Foundation

MUF is a registered care giving and educational organisation. It seeks to transform lives of the orphans, widows, less privileged and the indigent ones in the community to ensure their needs are met at the appropriate times and that they are also empowered to setup small-scale businesses to enable them live meaningful lives.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III

We propagate good moral and God-consciousness and organise different programmes weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually to educate the young and adult Islamically. They are also taught how to read the Holy Qur’an and how to worship Allah.

Last month, we organised youth seminar which was attended by 350 participants from schools across Ogun Stat.  Scholars from Ogun and Lagos taught participants that the only great person is one that is not only excellent in academic but also sound and exemplary in the moral and God-consciousness.

Leaders of tomorrow

This is one great thing that we also see in the Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN)’s intention for establishing the Crescent University, Abeokuta (CUAB) where he insists on producing Nigerian leaders of tomorrow who are not brilliant beasts but largely excellent in the academic, moral and God-consciousness.

We are also planning a seminar for women in April.  An Editor and Chairman, Nigerian Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Branch, Hajiah Sekinah Lawal, will be addressing Nigerian women on ‘Woman and the Media’ and other relevant issues. We have other scholars that will also be coming to speak.

Relationship with the apex Islamic body

First and foremost, we recognise and accept the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji General Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III as the Amir of Muslims in Nigeria.  For that reason, in line with the traditions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, we obey and follow his guidance.

This Sultan, is particularly the first Sultan of Sokoto that has taken peace and unity to all parts of Nigeria and beyond.  Remember that he had been chosen to speak on global peace at the Vatican in Rome.  He has spoken at the United Nations.

He has spoken about national security at military functions in Nigeria and he has so much carried himself greatly in accordance with the dictate of Islam to the extent that not only Muslims but also Christians and even Igbo people of South East Nigeria have eulogised the virtues of the Sultan as a leader that has blended Muslims and Christians in Enugu State and other parts of the South-East.

Before now, Muslims in Nigeria used to be called  ‘spoilers’.  It was an errorneous notion about Muslims.  But with Sultan Abubakar in the saddle, many good and positive things about Muslims in Nigeria have unfolded which the media did not cover (laughs). Even with that, I can say clearly that the image of the Nigerian Muslims has now been restored. No doubt.