An Islamic gathering in Kwara State at the weekend, said no amount of government policies would turn Nigeria around without the willingness and due support by the citizenry for its implementation.

The Muslim Congress (TMC) Kwara State chapter thoroughly explained the importance of both government and the citizenry in nation building and its development, describing them as symbiotic.

Speaking at the TMC annual state lecture to commemorate the nation’s 66th Independence anniversary, the grand mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, said no matter the beneficial and weighty government ideas or policies are, die on the drawing board if citizens are naive and unwilling to support it.

Tagged: “National building through ethical leadership: taking ownership of our roles,” Shafi’i who spoke on the topic: Embracing National cohesion, sustainable security and civic trust: from policy to performance,” also declared that it is unethical and unpatriotic for citizens not to question leadership in government, urging constitutional means and devises for this.

Listing Nigeria’s main challenges to include: insecurity and strapped economy, Shafi’i urged federal and state governments to fortify security agencies and their operatives, regretting that the nation is in the hands of “unlicensed criminals”.

“The number of the criminals including kidnappers and bandits as well as other law breakers are lesser than one million, how then can, and should take other over 200 million Nigerians in hostage?” He asked while charging the governments to rise to the defence of innocent and law-abiding citizens.

On the plight of Nigeria’s economy, the Islamic scholar advocated total and u diluted welfarism rather than what he described as “untamed palliatives.”

He said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying though, what we need is total welfarism not inadequate palliatives,” this, he said, would generate trust in government.

“We all can no longer feed and train our children sufficiently,” he regretted, charging leadership to always be accountable to the citizens at every time, which he said would ensure trust in government, supporting this with the learship style of prophet Muhammad’s companion – Omar.

On this, he advised Nigerians to desist drom selling their votes or their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to politicians during election time, citing the recent governorship election in Osun State where voters shunned financial inducement as case study.

He also urged them to be willing to support and assist government policies by shunning vandalisation of government installations.

He, however, advised the governmnet to attempt fulfilling campaign promises, :this is a sure way of gaining public trust,” he said.

Another speaker, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Ishola described insecurity as a national menace that ought to take central discussion and concern of the government at all levels.

He advised mosques and other religious centres to prioritise sermons that will dissuade the youths from life-threatning ventures.

“Schools too should blend into this rescue mission by ensuring they produce responsible graduates. We all should not relent; let’s accept Sharia intonour society for us to have peace,” he urged.