Be peace ambassadors, Lagos dep gov tells religious leaders

LAGOS State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, has called on religious leaders in the state to shun activities that may result in crises among adherents of the different religions.

Dr Adebule made the call at the opening of the 104th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, held at the Human Capital Development Centre, Epe.

The programme, which will end on January 1, 2018, is being attended by about 4,000 delegates.

The deputy governor, whose speech was delivered by the Director, Civil Service Office of the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, AbdurRazak Ekemode, said religious leaders should use every opportunity to promote peace in the state.

Dr Adebule, while commending the organisers of the vacation programme, urged the delegates to imbibe the spirit of peaceful co-existence.

“IVC, which serves as an avenue to orientate Muslim students towards the right mindset for nation building, entrenches moral brightness, entrepreneurship, brotherhood as well as revives spiritually of students across all cadres.

“Islam is a religion of peace and we must continue to tell ourselves the basic truth that will help us to do things that are right before God and man.

“Our state has the enviable record of being a place where adherents of all faiths coexist peacefully without any rancour. Our government will continue to promote this through policies and programmes that will make life better and brighter for all our citizens,” she said.

On his part, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, urged youths in the state to do away with immoral acts and religious crisis, even as he counselled them to ensure that they were exposed to the right religious orientation.

Earlier, the Amir of the MSSN, Lagos, Dr Saheed Ashafa, accused the ruling class of stunting the growth of the country and running its affairs backwardly.

According to him, the theme of the IVC, “In the Shade of the Qur’an,” was chosen to reflect the need for Nigeria’s system of governance to follow what Allah prescribes.

He claimed that the country was being run “under a shade that cannot guarantee success, a shade that makes it vulnerable.

“We cannot sustain this nation with the excessive insincerity, gross deceit, inestimable greed and lack of transparency and accountability among the ruling class.

“If both the leaders and followers do not submit ourselves to the shade of the Qur’an, we will continue to run from one problem to another. Corruption will continue to take new dimensions; just as it has moved from being covered with an umbrella to being swept under the carpet.

“Our problems will not leave us without a concerted effort to be guided by the Book of Allah, where all humans are treated equally. No hijab victimisation, no religious sentiment, no gender bias and no tribal discrimination.

“For Nigeria to develop, our system of governance must follow that prescribed by Allah. We can neither stop suffering from the effects of recession nor vulnerable economy, and our policies will not beget favourable outcomes if we do not stop operating an economy that survives on Ribaa – interest,” Dr Ashafa warned.