Nigerians must wake up and be enlightened about politics and good governance —Prof Taofeek Abdul Azeez

The Chief Imam, University of Abuja, Professor Taofeek Abdul Azeez, speaks to SAHEED SALAWU on the importance of Hijrah and issues affecting Nigeria.

 A number of Muslim groups have been asking the Federal Government to declare Muharram 1 as public holiday to commemorate Hijrah, what is your take on this request?

The request for holiday is, to me, advocacy and political. It is not an Islamic requirement, but a good Muslim political action for advocacy.

What lessons can Muslims draw from Hijrah?

Muslims can draw quite a lot of lessons from Hijrah. First, it is a watershed in the history of the prophetic Islamic movement. It is, therefore, a necessary step to be taken for personal and corporate success. I am not aware of anyone who achieved success by staying in one place all his life. At least, migration for education, commerce, political and military conquests have always been critical for individual and group success.

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Secondly, migration must not be spontaneous, as learnt from the meticulous planning of the prophetic Hijrah. It is also a strategic retreat from limiting dangers and distracting insecurity that hinder human progress. Hijrah is also a strategic capacity building and capability assessment for individual and group as learnt from the reactions of the kuffar to the prophetic Hijrah.

It also provides a framework for display of loyalty and trust as learnt from the roles of Ali and Abubakr. The prophet also taught us the highest principles of trust, justice and honesty by returning the money and valuables of his enemies kept in trust with him as he prepared to leave even as a result of their threats to his life. He did not use the emergency situation to misappropriate and thus become unjust and dishonest. It is also an avenue for sacrifice and a means of acquiring mighty rewards.

What is the significance of the month we are currently in, Muharram, in the scheme of our faith?

Muharram is the first month of the lunar calendar. It is the best month for fasting after Ramadhan. It is a sacred month during which we are not to offend and fight one another. It is a month of salvation from sin (Adam), rescue from the deluge and destruction (Nuh), rescue from sickness (Ayyub), death (Issa), oppression and destruction (Ibrahim, Yusuf, Musa and Issa), all of which happened on the 10th of Muharram.

Do you think Muslims in Nigeria have so far displayed the right attitude to politics and the achievement of good governance?

Muslims, like other people in Nigeria, have not displayed the right attitudes to politics and achievement of good governance in Nigeria because we are generally ignorant of what politics and good governance are. Since you cannot give what you don’t have, you cannot function where you don’t know.

What is your advice for Muslims who think politics is a dirty game and as such, have taken no interest in participating in it? 

My advice for Nigerians generally is to wake up and be enlightened about politics and good governance. They are not the same things. A good politician hardly governs well while good governance hardly accommodates politics and politicking.

What is your impression of the fortune of Nigeria, 58 years after independence?

In the first instance, I do not believe Nigeria has achieved any independence. It is after genuine independence that we can talk about performance as an independent people. Who signed the amalgamation paper to become Nigeria? Who then secured independence from whom and on behalf of whom?

What is your advice for Nigerians – politicians and the electorate alike – as the country gears up for the 2019 general election?

I cannot advise the politicians because my advice would neither reach them nor count. As for the electorate, there is nothing you can do to help an ignorant and poor people who can be easily cajoled into endorsing the choice of the tyrannical few after taking pittance from them to solve a fundamental problem temporarily.