By Abubakar Yakubu
The El- Birru Muslim Association of Nigeria (EMAN) has called on Muslim Ulamau and Imams to participate in the country’s political administration to ensure good governance.
The call was made by EMAN’s National Ameer, Sheikh Dr. Hassan Abdallah- Rahman, who said this during the celebration of the association’s Hijrah calendar launch, public lecture and conferment of awards of honour at Okene in Kogi State on Saturday.
He said the practice was in conformity with the Prophetic instruction that states whoever sees a wrong thing should correct it with his hand, tongue or heart.
The Ameer lamented that the country is presently bedevilled with serious political problems that is sinking into the anguish of corruption in governance, adding that it improvises people who are subjected to squalor and hunger without hope.
He said the only hope left was for Ulamau, Imams and other Islamic scholars to participate honestly in politics in order to strengthen things without the usurpation of the people’s right for self aggrandizement.
Ameer Abdallah- Rahman also decried that many Ulamau in Ebiraland establish Islamic and Arabic schools but their efforts are not fruitful due to lack of Arabic teachers.
He said the lack of such teachers has led to public schools in Kogi Central not having the required structure to teach Arabic, except the private schools, noting that this has led to many Muslims including the youths amongst them not having the requisite understanding of Islam to guide them properly.
“This misunderstanding makes them venture into masquradeism, indiscipline, immorality, indecency, yahooism and Islamically prohibitive acts.
The Ameer appealed to the state government to ensure the Central Jumaat Mosque built by Sheikh AbdulRahman Abdullahi for Ebiras is revived into an Arabic primary, secondary and higher institute that awards diplomas and degrees as well as setup a department of Arabic and Islamic education at the state’s Education Ministry.
He advised the government to assist all private Arabic and Islamic schools/ colleges with qualified Arabic teachers.
Other assistance according to him should include the government collaborating with EMAN to drill boreholes in many Jumaat Mosques in Kogi Central, continuation of good road networks in the state and prompt payments of the salaries as well as allowances of people that work under the state government.
Highlights of the ceremony were a lecture presentation by Prof. Adam A. Abere as well as the presentation of awards of excellence to Alhaji Abdulkabir Aliu, Prof. Juwairiyya Badamasiuy and Hajiya Maryam Salifu Ibrahim.
