President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened in the tussle over the ownership of Obalende Muslim prayer ground between the Lagos State Jama’atul Muslimeen (Muslim Community) and security agencies.
He said he would resolve it within two weeks.
To this end, he has set up a committee under the leadership of the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari to advise him on the processes and all that needs to be done to do justice to all the parties involved.
This is as he wished faithful a happy Ramadan, which started on Thursday.
Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said Buhari stated this while speaking at a meeting with members of the Jama’atul Muslimeen on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the president, justice and fairness are principles very dear to him and he will hold onto them as long as he lives.
“I have listened to the enlightening historical details you have read. You will get justice as far as this is concerned.
”I commend you for adopting a peaceful approach to seeking justice, without heating up the polity. The Chief of Staff will get back to you in two weeks,” he said.
The leader of the group, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy told the president that they had come to him as a last resort, having explored several avenues to get justice to no avail.
He said their ownership of the land dated back to 1931 when the Nigerian Government made an “Absolute Grant” of 3.11 acres of the land in question to serve as Muslim Prayer Ground at the new Hausa Settlement, Ikoyi Plains, Lagos, now known as Obalende.
This, he explained, was much earlier than the arrival in the area of their neighbours, the Dodan Barracks, that came after the collapse of the First Republic.
The Lagos Muslim community, who was part of the delegation, presented documents to show approval of the ownership of the land, signed by the late Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, under Obasanjo’s Military Administration, affirming their ownership of the land.
They reported: “In the last few years, officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, at Dodan Barracks had been threatening to deny the Muslims access into the prayer ground.
“This is because the Muslim community was claiming ownership of it, apparently based on their erroneous understanding that the prayer ground belongs to Dodan Barracks.”
Other members of the committee set up by the president are: The Ministers of Defence, Works and Housing, the Chief of Army Staff, the Director-General, Department of State Services and others recognised as stakeholders in the matter.
Meanwhile, President Buhari sent best wishes to Muslims as they commence 30 days of Ramadan fasting, urging that they use the season “to project the best and finest virtues of Islam by personal conduct, and not precept.”
In a goodwill message to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, issued by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja, Buhari said:
“Let us use this opportunity to put the best teachings of Islam into practice, such as kindness and the love of humanity.
“This is an occasion for deep reflection and greater fear of Allah and avoidance of all evils that harm humanity.”
According to Buhari, Ramadan is characterised by abstention from food and drinks from dawn to dusk, which brings both the rich and poor to share the experience of hunger together, thereby strengthening the bonds between haves and have-nots.
Buhari further urged, “as we begin these 30 days fasting season, let us not forget that Ramadan is not only about abstention from eating and drinking, but it is a reminder to refrain from all kinds of evil and transgressions that harm humanity.”
The president frowned at the way and manner some traders artificially increase the prices of their goods during the month of Ramadan.
“I am particularly aware of the activities of traders who artificially increase the prices of their goods, including food at the beginning of every month of Ramadan.
”This kind of exploitation is against the spirit of the Ramadan and the spirit of Islam,” Buhari added.
The president challenged wealthy individuals and organisations to always share food and drinks with the less fortunate members in the society.
Buhari said: “While we are observing this important occasion in the spiritual life of Muslims, let us share food and drinks with the less fortunate.
”Because by sharing our blessings with others, Allah will multiply our rewards for good deeds.”
