Group tasks public officers on service to humanity

The Companion (Association of Muslim Men in Business and Professions) has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan, and Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Governor, Alhaji Afolabi Salis to dutifully abide by the ethics of their individual profession and uphold their dignity as Muslims in the public service.

Speaking during the special prayer session to honour and seek divine guidance for them, The National Amir of The Companion, Alhaji Thabit Sonaike, congratulated them on their appointments and call to serve humanity.

“This is a welcome development and a pride to Islam and our organization as an association of Muslim men in business and the professions. I must emphasize that this is not the first of such call to public service within The Companion and it is also not the first of such gathering.

“We strongly believe that this is one of the greatest support and show of solidarity we can give to help them succeed in their delicate tasks. We are convinced that whoever sincerely seek the guidance of Allah in the conduct of his private and public affairs will never go wrong. And it is on this note that we are gathered today to pray Allah to guide them aright in their respective public assignments,” he said.

He advised them to reflect highest level of moral and ethical values for which Muslims in general and members of The Companion in particular are known.

“You must remain a reference point for excellence, leadership and good governance. I challenge you to follow the footsteps of the pious predecessors and to surpass the records of contemporary Muslims in public service in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

He challenged them to follow the footsteps of the pious predecessors and to surpass the records of contemporary Muslims in public service in Nigeria and beyond. “You should be inspired by the legacies and very good examples and standards which the likes of Professor Ishaq Oloyede – the Registrar of JAMB are setting in public service and governance in Nigeria

“You should be guided by the adage that says ‘Good name is better than riches’. As political office holders, you should expect both praises and criticisms, but I urge you to take both in their strides, learn the lessons they offer but remain focused on your mandate and the desire to accomplish the goals of your principals and more importantly the overall goal of public good.

National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahman Ahmad, advised, particularly the NAHCON boss against seeing himself, which in most cases is responsible for the downfall of many leaders in the past.

“You need to be careful with those who have served those before you because the advisers of your predecessors are likely to be your advisers and so be careful of the pitfalls of those before you,” he said.

Ahmad advised him not to be like ordinary people of yesterday who, having got to power today, become power drunk not to allow people, who most of the times may be good advisers to move near him.

Speaking, Alhaji Ebiti urged members of the Muslim Ummah to support Hassan in office as NAHCON Chairman and other honouree in Ogun State Chief of Staff, Alhaji Salis, with prayers.

“Let us not leave them alone. Their success is our success likewise their failure is our failure. So, we must not leave them alone,” Ebiti said.