How govt can successfully fight corruption —KWASU Chief Imam

The Chief Imam of Kwara State University (KWASU), Professor Hamza Ishola Abdulraheem, speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on some issues. Excerpts:

Despite the success recorded by the government in its fight against terrorism in the country, there are still reports of suicide bombings or attempts, especially in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in the country. What is your view on this?

It is unfortunate that this act has continued. Killing oneself is utterly heinous in the sight of Allah, let alone destroying other souls in the process. This act is clearly borne out of evil indoctrination. To think that causing your own death and the deaths of others will earn you paradise is clear misguidance. What awaits the soul of a perpetrator of such a cruel act is Allah’s punishment.

This evil act is still happening and one feels sorry for our nation. There is the need for a serious education of the people. People should be taught what Islam stands for, what it preaches and how it should be practised. Investigations have shown that the hearts of those recruited to carry out this heinous crime against God and humanity have been poisoned. All these speak to the need for clerics to be mindful of what they teach and preach.

How do you see the rampant cases of suicide and attempted suicide around the country lately?

I do not expect a Muslim, or any right-thinking individual for that matter, to decide that life is no more worth living because of recession or any other life’s problems. Islam has shown the path for mankind to follow in the management of life.

Do you think Muslim parents are doing enough to inculcate the ideals of Islam in their children?

Yes and no. Yes, because we have some parents who do the right things for their children in terms of training and guidance. No, because we also have parents who don’t care. But ideally, good Muslim parents should care about the affairs of their children. All Muslim parents should know that their first responsibility to their children is to train them and guide them to right path.

What’s your view on provocative dressing among youths nowadays, especially females?

It is worrisome. But some universities have introduced dress code, particularly for females, as bad dressing is not pronounced among males. A well trained and well behaved person from a good and responsible home knows how to dress responsibly. Everyone, especially ladies, should dress in order to earn people’s respect. It is not proper for a lady to dress in such a way that half of the body is exposed for people to see. Forget about religion, our cultures and traditions do not support people dressing shabbily or just anyhow. You are expected to dress to be respected. So, an acceptable standard of dressing should be maintained not only in academic environments but in the society at large.

What should be done to halt the increasing rate of divorce in the society?

When you go into a marriage, you have to know that you are signing a life contract and being able to fulfil the terms of this contract requires that you be patient, prayerful and cautious in the choice of your partner. In any contract, you are likely to meet some challenges. You should try and face the challenges that occur in your marriage with faith. If people accept these facts, cases of divorce will be reduced.

How can corruption be effectively addressed in the country?

If we really want to eradicate corruption, then the government has a lot to do. It must respect the rights of the citizens, pay workers adequately, and as and when due. A worker who has the opportunity to steal may be tempted because he watches as pensioners suffer. That is a problem. Let people get what is due to them. The Federal Government says the Paris Club loan refund should be used to pay salaries but some state governments say only a part of the fund is for salary. The other, they say, is for infrastructure. What infrastructure are you building? Is there a better infrastructure than human beings? So, let people get what they have earned so that they are not tempted to steal. Let my child have good education at an affordable cost. If a child cannot get a good education at a reasonable cost but the parent has the opportunity to steal to get money for expensive schools, such a parent might make an attempt. Some of us will not do that but, certainly, many would. Not all of us have the strength of mind to resist temptation. What the government should do is to make enough provision for the people. When people have jobs and get all that they are supposed to get, that will be the beginning of the end of corruption in this country. Recovering looted funds is good but it is not actually killing corruption.