Brethren, the situation in Nigeria today as regards living and access to basic amenities is vividly captured in Qur’an 2: 155 quoted above. Really, the country is challenged. The hardship in the land is real and multi-dimentional. Insecurity as manifested in killing and maiming occasioned by terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes, farmers-herders conflict, ethnic rivalry and agitation as well as existential threats through natural phenomenon such as climate change and human errorhave conspired to create fear and anxiety for Nigerians.

It is a common request now to see genuine persons, who are not beggars, to ask for financial support to complete their journey home or to work. These are persons who are gainfully employed but whose salaries can longer take them home. Many of these persons do not think of balance diet but how to get something into the stomach. To them, a pot of soup with no meat is a blessing from God. A plate of rice with stew is enough for breakfast and God’s answers to prayer against starvation.

Many who could not afford to send their children to low-cost private schools are now withdrawing them, but sometimes left with no option but to keep these children at home.

And those who are perceived to earn better are now being burdened. This is because for such Nigerians, there is one immediate or extended family member, relatives, friends and neighbours, who has one financial request.

For majority, it is financial support for the family to eat at least a day. But the situation is becoming more complicated by the day following the subsidy removal that have led to the high cost of goods, including food stuff and transport.So, many Nigerians, especially the multi-dimensional poor said to be about 133 million Nigerians, barely live, because they ration almost resources at their disposal, that is even when the resources, that include food, are available.

Good enough, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged this hardship in his nation broadcast on Monday commemorating the beginning of the new year 2024. “From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope,” the president had said, assuring that he remained focused in turning things around.

He said, “Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.”

While it is true that the present situation is a culmination of bad governanceover the years occasioned majorly by leadership deficiency, the administration of President Tinubu has a huge responsibility to deliver as there won’t be any excuse to do otherwise. He campaigned vigorously and projected himself as having the competence and capacity to lead the rebirth of Nigeria.

This point could be gleaned clearly from the same Monday speech as he said, “Though the past year (2023) was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy.

“It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agricultural production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.

“The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.”

Certainly, the country requires a selfless leadership in order to mobilise the entire citizenry for a patriotic commitment to nation building and development.

Therefore, it is important, at this juncture, to call the attention of Mr. President and the government generally, to the observations and recommendations of the National Islamic Centre (NIC) issued at the end of its 26th National Ummah Convention held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State last Sunday.

With “A manual on leadership and citizenship in Nigeria’s new dispensation” as theme, the convention identified lack of focus and accountability by political elites over the last three decades as factors responsible for deterioration in the quality of life of Nigerians as well as national crisis due to collapse of the economy and hyper insecurity .

Also marshalled was the point that “majority of the political elites exhibit undesirable traits such as lack of vision, poor planning, ineffective management, and obsession with sectional and parochial interests; as well as selfishness and corruption.”

The convention observed that Nigerian citizens, including Muslims have been left without effective leadership, leading to deepening illiteracy, poverty and misery which in turn breed hunger, insecurity and national instability.

It was also noted that the crisis of leadership and followership got worse due to failure of Nigerians, especially to study, learn and emulate the character and life examples of the Prophets from the Holy Books, particularly the last Noble Prophet who was a husband, head of state, war commander, educator and diplomat.

According to the convention, “the inability to realize our potential in agriculture highlights the failure of leadership in our nation, instead of innovation and critical appraisal the leaders repeat failed policies and we fall deeper into food insecurity and poverty.”

As a way out, some of the recommendations included the need for Nigerian leaders and citizensto emulate the model of accountability in Islam as leaders and followers at family, community, state and national levels.

Indeed, Nigerian leaders are called upon to urgently give selfless leadership; while the citizens are called upon to be patriotic, trustworthy, law abiding, avoid corruption, be just and protect the rights of minorities and majority communities without discrimination.

Unless all levels of leadership at the family, community, local government, state and national levels wake up and set in motion measures to resolve this national crisis, we all stand the risk of being consumed by it with dire consequences.

Given the agrarian potentials of the northern states in particular, the convention appealed to state governors to immediately constitute Task Forces, with traditional rulers, Ulama, businessmen and development partners, to immediately set in motion short and long term plans and mechanism to educate farmers to be entrepreneurial and self-reliant, so as to reset agriculture according to global best practices.

The convention condemns the recent outbreak of bloodshed in Plateau State, commiserates with all those who lost relatives and urges the security agencies to impartially and professionally apprehend thearmed “bandits” and try them in the law courts to serve as deterrent.

The summary of this sermon is that while Nigerians, especially Muslims among them believe strongly that the hardship will soon be overcome, the leadership should be alive to their responsibility of governance with sincerity and selflessness as they will be called to account for their stewardship.