Facing The Ka’aba

Former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN) has lamented lack of time consciousness among Muslims, arriving for events late just as organisers also start event behind schedule.

Just after the Fajr prayers, it became cloudy with a little drizzle in Warri. Hundreds of Muslims had gathered at the Mom Civic Center, along the popular airport road in the city, venue of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, the 4th Eastern Region/SouthSouth Jalsa Tarbiyah. As if it was the hand of God, the momentary showers became the mainspring for a successful event. Quality people trooped in from far and near including non Ahmadis who according, to them were endeared to the group by their philosophy of ‘love for all, hatred for none’. It was also gathered that Africa’s richest man, and chairman of the largest indigenous industrial conglomerate, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who was on the list to deliver the first paper on: “The Guiding Principles for Survival in Business without corruption in a mono-product economy” missed the occasion as a result of some issues on our air travel. Again, it was gathered that his friends had put in place a   62nd birthday bash for him without his knowledge on that day. Even at that, as a good friend of the Jamaat, all efforts to personally attend the event and immediately return to Lagos were frustrated by air travel.