Prof. Afis Oladosu, Lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, has advised Nigerians not to see any leader as the saviors who could provide their needs.
Oladosu gave the advice at an annual Ramadan Lecture organized by the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State branch, on Sunday in Ibadan.
Theme of the lecture was: “Model For Accountable Leadership In A Pluralistic Society”.
He urged Nigerians to always put their faith in God as the only one who could meet their needs and not leaders or any other human being.
The don, however, called on those in position of authorities not to neglect their responsibilities in providing the needed social amenities for the populace, urging them to use their sacred position to better lives of the citizens.
He, also urged them to fear God in their deeds and have it at the back of their minds that they would one day account for their deeds on the hereafter.
“Nigerians need credible leaders who are committed and have concern for the citizens.
“The responsibility of followers is to pray for the leaders and give them advise to enable them to succeed.
“As Muslims, we must maintain our sanctity in this Month of Ramadan and beyond.
“We must be in control of our anger, forgive and forget whenever anyone offender us and put our trust in Allah,” he said.
Also, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, said that some people doubted his faith of being a Muslim, but most people believed that he remained a committed Muslim.
Lawal said that as a representative of the face of Muslims in government, his doors were always opened to address their challenges.
He called on the Muslims to use the advantage of being in government to pursue whatever that would benefit the society.
In his remarks, the Chairman of MULAN, Oyo State branch, Alhaji Akeem Adetunji, called on the newly elected leaders in Nigeria to fear Allah in all their deeds and always listen to advise in order to succeed.
Adetunji said the topic of the lecture was chosen deliberately because of its relevance to the tone of the prevailing political atmosphere in Nigeria.
He prayed Allah to direct the affairs of the country and made it a shining light in the comity of nations.
The Chairman of the Day, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said that the essence of Ramadan fasting for Muslims was to take away their bad habits and compelled leaders to be just and incorruptible.
Fagbemi, represented by Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), urged Muslims not to return to their bad habits, which they have refrained from during the Month of Ramadan.
Commenting, Mr Yusuf Ali (SAN), represented by Mr Ojo Adebayo (SAN), former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, commended MULAN for the Ramadan program.
Ali urged Muslims to always use their numerical strength in striving for position of authority and be good ambassador of Islam.
“We must be of good conduct while in position of authority in order to portray the good image of Islam,” Ali said.
He urged Nigerians to always call leaders to order whenever they were going astray.
Present at the occasion were Prof. Muslih Yahya, the Executive Secretary of Muslim Umah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN); Alhaja Sofiat Oyediran, the Chief Registrar, Oyo State High Court; Justice Mashud Abas, President of Court of Appeal, Oyo State and Alhaji Lasu Sanusi (SAN), the Patron of MULAN.
Others included: Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi, Chairperson, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch; Justice M. Olagunju, National President of MULAN and Dr Kazeem Olaniyan among others.
