A faith-based organisation, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has organised a training workshops for religious leaders to acclimatise them with the needed approach to preach against corruption in Nigeria.
The group says the need was borne out of the need to support the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration towards achieving a less corrupt communities and more responsive government.
Speaking at the training held at the Multipurpose hall, secretariat community mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, the guest lecturer of the event, the Head of Department Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso explained that the current government was making frantic effort to restore sanity into the polity through coherent measures and intuitive ideas.
While speaking on the ‘Role of Islamic Religious Leaders in fighting Corruption, Professor Oloso said that religious leaders must collaborate with government and synergise thoughts and ideas and help to intensify campaigns against corruption through their various sermons.
“We appreciate the effort of the current government in trying to fight corruption to a standstill. But we do know that definitely as its known now, corruption is fighting back. Unless we bring on board opinion movers, the Muslim Clerics who intimate with the general people to inculcate it in their sermons and even the Christian leader to put it in their Sunday School programme, we may not likely get it right on time.” Professor Oloso said
He urged those at the corridors of power to be mindful of their attitude towards materialism and challenged them to beware of the hereafter where they will account of their actions.
His words: “It is high time we reoriented our leaders and let them know that accountability is definite. Some people still believe that after this world, there is no other place again, so they want to make it by hook or crook ad not knowing that they are going to be answerable for their deeds. They are going to account for whatever they do in this world and if you are judged triumphant you go to heaven and if its otherwise, then you go to hell.”
The Professor during his lecture took the participants through Islamic scriptures from the Holy Quran, teachings and stories of the prophet, to corroborate the ideals of fighting corruption and the need to participate in the campaign.
He also identified some of the early companions of the prophet and spotlighted some Nigerian individuals who have distinguished themselves in the Islamic society and how they tackled corruption.
Professor Oloso who is also the Vice President Al-Hibibiyya Islamic Society said concerted and consistent advocacy against corruption will reduce the scourge to a minimum proportion and that prompted Al-Habibiyyah for putting such training together.
Renewed Mindset
Similarly, the Executive Director of ‘EAT-Fin’ foundation, Imam Fuhad Adeyemi said that the essence of the programme was to empower Muslim Clerics who usually have interactions with Political leaders, group and individuals on how to use the pulpit to preach against corruption and redirect the public towards a renewed mindset on corruption.
Adeyemi who pointed at leadership flaws which has plunged the society into its current state said that it was as a result of failure of the people to hold their leaders accountable.
“We all know that one major challenge we are facing as a nation today is leadership. The corrupt tendencies of most leaders to amass wealth at the detriment of the people they govern. And we see that to wage against corruption and irresponsive leadership, religious houses must be involved.
So, the essence of the programme is to involve the religious scholars, the Imams, to strengthen, empower and enlighten them on the challenges of corruption and how they can talk about it in such a way that it will be devoid of violence and rancour. And also to give them adequate skills to use in their sermons to change the pattern of ideas towards corrupt tendencies” he said
He stressed that religious leaders have crucial role to play in fighting corruption because “If you want anything to be done in this country, involve religious leaders and it will be done”.
EAT-FinOn the rationale behinds the ‘EAT-Fin’, Imam Fuhad said that ” EAT-Fin stands for ‘Encouraging Accountability and Transparency Through Faith-Based Intervention’.
According to him, “the rationale behind the EAT-Fin is to design a continuous programme that will guide and encourage the religious leaders who will form the path towards a corrupt-free polity”.
He said that the group would soon launch another programme called ‘The Executive’ where Political and Religious leaders and the public will gather to chart a course for a better society.
Nnenna.O
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