By Abdulquadri Olanrewaju-
The Amir (National Head), Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji (Barr.) AbdulAzeez Alatoye Azeez Folorunso has called the Nigerian faithful, political leaders, to uphold justice as a key prerequisite to a peaceful society.
While speaking at a press briefing of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria on Sunday at the Jama’at’s headquarters in Ojokoro, Lagos, he lamented that the state of affairs of individual Nigerians and the nation is at a crossroads.
Barr. Alatoye mentioned that lack of peace and insecurity has been the trend as it is evidenced in an array of security issues, including incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom, ritual and other forms of crimes, and the conflict of ethnic and religious identity and expression, etc.
He also stated, “We have continued to be plagued by the persisting issues of political and development economy and the concomitant increase in the rate of unemployment and poverty, which is being further affected by the rate of forex instability and the immediate effects of the fuel subsidy removal”.
While stating the solution to the situation, he said, “Taqwa is a key panacea to injustice as it simply means engaging in acts of righteousness and avoiding evils and sins as inspired by the fear of Allah in one’s heart”.
The National Head added while quoting the current Khalifa and Supreme Head of the Jama’at, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) that, “Righteousness demands one to lead life in accordance with the commandments of God and this includes looking at the consequence of everything one embarks upon and having firm belief that God is watching over everything one does”.
The Khalifah further said, “All this is due to an absence of Taqwa and values have changed. If progress has to be made, true values have to be recognized. The current situation is extremely worrying… Today, in order to restore the name of Islam, to create peace between the masses and the leadership, Taqwa is needed and no one is interested to pay attention to this. What is needed is that everyone turns to God and reflects as to what should be done when there is a situation of: ‘Corruption has appeared on land and sea…’ (Qur’an, 30:42)”.
“The basic lesson that the Founder of the Ahmadiyya community (as) has given us is that peace cannot be established without justice. And justice cannot be established without forming a relationship with the Higher Being. A relationship with the Creator of this world is a prerequisite for justice”, he reiterated.
In this light, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community urges the political class to reduce, moderate the ostentatious lifestyles, and make sacrifices to the people, as the economic situation in Nigeria is becoming unbearable.
Conclusively, the Amir said, “We commiserate with the people of Kaduna State with the accident that happened on the day of Maulud Nabbiy in which the military accidentally dropped bombs on innocent civilians celebrating instead of the bandit”.
