THE Oyo State chapter of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) has called on its members who were recently elected and appointed into public office in the state to be aboveboard and show exemplary leadership expected of legal practitioners and adherents of Islam.
MULAN made the call in Ibadan at a special prayer it organised for three of its members, Hon Ajibola Muraina, a member of the House of Representatives; Dr Nureni Adeniran, chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Mr Abiodun Raheem, Commissioner for Lands and Physical Development.
According to a statement by the publicity secretary, Alhaji Sakariyau Sanni, the chairman of the association, Alhaji Kola Adetunji, said the prayer became necessary in order to seek Allah’s guidance and protection for the political officeholders
He reminded them that apart from being representatives of their various families, they were ambassadors of Islam, hence, the need to be guided by the provisions of the holy Qur’an and sunnah of Prophet Muhammad in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the prayer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, noted that the appointees and the elected representative were worthy ambassadors of Islam. He implored them to demonstrate the best virtues as commanded by Allah.
Alhaji Sanusi commended the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, for approving a bursary award of N500,000 for every indigene of the state in the Nigeria Law School.
This gesture which, according to the legal luminary, is unprecedented in the state, would bring succour to many graduates of Law who could not attend the law school due to lack of funds.
In their admonitions at the event, the officiating clerics noted that the honorees, at this stage, did not deserve any congratulatory messages as that should be reserved till the end of their services to Allah and humanity.
According to them, it is after serving people without blemish that the congratulatory messages will be meaningful and appropriate.
They emphasised that honesty, fear of Allah and purposeful leadership should be their watchwords.
Responding to the honour, the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Development, Mr Raheem solicited for the cooperation of members of the legal profession to address increasing litigations bordering on lands in the state.
According to him, most of the land cases can be resolved amicably between the government and various litigants with the cooperation of his colleagues.
The commissioner assured the people of the state of timely processing of certificates of occupancy under the present administration.
He stated that it was unacceptable to see applicants waiting for years to obtain the important document.
In his remarks, the chairman of SUBEB, Dr Adeniran, promised the people of the state even distribution of educational facilities.
Adeniran disclosed that attention would be paid to quality as the present administration in the state would not compromise standard.
One of the strategies, according to him, is the introduction of voluntary inspectors to monitor teaching and learning in all the schools in the state.
Dr Adeniran thanked members of MULAN in the state for the honor and assured the body that he and the other honorees would not let the association down.