Muslims urged to move against disintegration of Nigeria

Muslim organizations across the country have been urged to take all necessary measures within their power to protect the image of Islam and Muslims by ensuring that our voice is heard loudly on restructuring of Nigeria and other national issues.

However, the Islamic Welfare Foundation in a communiqué issued after its four-day national conference in Ibadan urged The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), in collaboration with other Muslim organizations, to embark on a massive awareness campaign against the disintegration of Nigeria as enjoined on Muslims by Allah.

The Conference noted that there have been efforts in the past to curb all tendencies of disintegration but to no avail as a result of the attitude of the leaders and followers of various faiths in Nigeria. Religious leaders and their followers can serve Allah (God) and humanity by being faithful to the tenets of their respective religions.

The communiqué signed by the National Coordinator, Islamic Welfare Foundation, Aliu Badmus, suggests that all Muslims, both leaders and followers at all levels, should desist from acts that could present Muslims as contributing to the disintegration of Nigeria.

The group had observed that issue of national integration is fundamental to the development of Nigeria but many Nigerians, especially the religious leaders are not sufficiently committed to this concept.

“There is disunity within and among religious groups and this exacerbates disunity within the nation. The leadership (political, religious, cultural etc) is essentially responsible for the disunity that is currently bedeviling Nigeria.

“The Conference recognizes the exemplary leadership of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari at ensuring the indivisibility of the corporate existence of Nigeria and believes that this conforms with the prescription of Islam in Quran 3:103

“Attitudinal problems are inhibiting the required adjustment for Nigerians to live as compatriots in a united Nigeria and this is fueled by corruption of the political, religious and ethnic leaders,” it stated.

The communiqué therefore enjoined the law enforcement agencies in the country in conjunction with the Judiciary to apply appropriate legal measures to decisively deal with violent agitators for the disintegration of Nigeria.

“Governments at all levels in Nigeria must strive to take care of the ordinary citizensespecially their economic, social, political and religious needs so that their situation will not be exploited to cause disintegration,” it stated.

Muslims are however called upon to abide by the teachings of Islam in their daily endeavours to serve as role models to others in the fight against corruption and other elements of disunity, while religious leaders are urged to find more effective ways of inculcating Islamic values in the society.

The group further urged media organisations to be socially and professionally responsible by upholding the tenet of their profession that says “Truth is sacred” and desist from reporting falsehood.