Islam is politics and politics is Islam. So, we must participate in electoral process because any action taken by politicians will affect us one way or the other.
Everybody, whether Muslim or Christian, has a role to play in the forthcoming general elections, if we want to make things work as we expected in the country.
League of Imams and Alfas in Akure, Ondo State, has urged Nigerians to vote for personality and not political parties at the forthcoming general elections.
The league stated this at the public Dawah, organised by the group, tagged: “Our Roles during the Electioneering Period.”
Dr Muhammad Awwal Abdulwasi, who was guest lecturer at the programme, said that the only way the country could move forward was to participate in the Feb. 25 presidential election and elect good leader.
Abdulwasi, of the Department of Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, said that it was the right of every citizen to take active part in the politics of the country.
According to him, it is written in the holy Quran that Muslims have a responsibility to involve in the politics of his community or society.
The guest lecturer frowned at the refusal of Muslim faithful to get involved in politics.
“Islam is politics and politics is Islam. So, we must participate in electoral process because any action taken by politicians will affect us one way or the other.
“Everybody, whether Muslim or Christian, has a role to play in the forthcoming general elections, if we want to make things work as we expected in the country.
“If you say you won’t participate, at the end of the day, a bad leader can emerge and you will not have any right to complain.
“So as the presidential election is around the corner, we should vote for personality based on his antecedent and track record rather than political party,” he said.
One of the keynote speakers, Dr Abass Mimiko, said it was the responsibility of Muslims to participate in electoral process.
“Don’t listen to anyone who said politics is dirty and that Muslim should away from it. You all need to know that participating in politics is what can actually bring goodness.
“We must encourage Muslims to participate in politics to elect good leaders for the state and the country at large,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of PDP in Ekiti, Mr Sadiq Obanoye, said that people should embrace peace and shun violence during and after the election.
Obanoye, who said that Islam was about enthroning a leadership that was expected to play good role, said that people had the responsibility to belong to political parties of their choices.
Chief Imam of Akure, Alhaji AbdulHakeem Yayi-Akorede, said that people, especially Muslim faithful, should see their PVC as power to elect the leadership of the country.
Chairman Special Duties Committee of the league, Abdulnafiu Ismail, who said that the organisation had also organised special prayers for Nigeria, said that the lecture was aimed at educating people on the importance of choosing the right leader for the country.
