A Professor of Islamic Studies at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ishaq Akintola has called on champions of successions to address divisive matters rather than heating up the polity.

Professor Akintola, who is also the Director, Muslim Rights Concern stated this while presenting the lead theme “Lies and Facts of One Nigeria” of a 2-day seminar organized by the Federation of Ahlus-Sunnah Organizations in Nigeria, FASON at the University of Ibadan, advised secessionist groups to stop painting gloomy pictures of Nigeria before international organizations.

He stressed that the federal government has been consistently laying foundation for steady national development with massive infrastructure turnaround, urging state governments to address insecurity in their domains with judicious use of security votes for procurement of modern ammunition for security personnel and employment of more hands.

Speaking on a sub-theme: Islam, Muslims and Unity of Nigeria, the Imam Zakat and Sodaqat Foundation Nigeria, Sheikh Jamiu Tirmidhi, who reiterated that effective governance remained the panacea to secessionist agitations, urged federal government to embark on accurate population census for workable national development plan as well as incorporation of learning the major Nigerian languages to improve understanding of cultural diversity among Nigerians.

The National Amirah, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria, Alhaja Rofiah Sanni in her presentation on Women in Nation Building emphasized the need for men to lay good family foundation through selection of pious women as wives to bear good children.

Chairman on the occasion and Vice President, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurasheed Adiyatullah said the path to Nigeria greatest was to address unequal opportunity to wealth and positions according to Sharia.

The Commissioner of police in Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko represnted by the Operation Commander, Federal Highway Patrol, CSP Usman Sarafadeen advised parents to always caution their children against criminal activities to ensure a peaceful society.

In a comment on the theme of the seminar, the former executive secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN, Professor Daud Noibi commended FASON for the event, urging Nigerians to desist from linking criminality with ethnicity.

Earlier in a keynote address, the acting Amir FASON, Sheikh Tajudeen Abdulkareem enjoin Islamic scholars in Nigeria and diaspora to intensify prayers and focus on sermons that would calm the tensed atmosphere in the country, emphasizing that FASON is in support of united Nigeria through dialogue to resolve national question.

The Chief Imam, University of Ibadan Central Mosque, Professor Abdurahman Oloyede advised Muslims to be united for them to attain their rightful positions in social, economic and political spheres in Nigeria.

He noted that the solution to problems facing Muslims in Southwest would be resolved with collective negotiations without sectarian segregation.

Professor Oloyede maintained that those who brought Islam to Yorubaland were able to nurture the faith in the midst of non-Muslims through showcasing the beauty of the religion, hence the imperative for Muslims in present day to coexist in peace under a united Nigeria.

In another presentation on economic implications of tribalism urged Muslims not to be a party to sufferings associated with secession.

Speaking on “Restructuring and Regional Rush towards 2023”, Professor Abideen Oloyede pointed out that improvement on national structure should be executed through elected representatives that would organize proper and legally prescribed means of referendum.

In a remark, the acting Amir, FASON, Sheikh Tajudeen Abdulkareem-Al-adabi reiterated that the associations detached themselves from agitations for secession and tribalism but supported a united Nigeria where issues would be addressed through dialogue as recommended in Islam.

Nafiu Busari

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