Be upright, says deputy governor

Tajudeeen Adebanjo, Ibadan

The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has urged public office holders to desist from all form of immorality and uphold virtuous conduct in all their dealings.

She spoke during Glorious Islamic Centre (GIC) 10th annual lecture.

The event featured award of prizes for Quranic recitation and essay competition.

She commended GIC founder and other stakeholders in the organisation for making the centre attractive for knowledge-seeking Muslims and non-Muslims .

“Every year, I look forward to GIC annual lecture as a source of inspiration,” she said.

According to her, the theme of the lecture, Islamic Social Justice as an Antidote to social problems, would address the challenges facing the nation.

“The expectation of all of us as Muslims is to enforce morality wherever we find ourselves, most especially those of us holding political offices. May Allah guide us right,” she said.
GIC President Mr Akin Laguda said the centre’s programmes are geared towards achieving tolerance, peace and goodness.

“Since 2001 that we started with our first inaugural lecture, we have moved by the grace of God from one step to another trying to improve on what we do. Today we have various programmes to enlighten Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said.

He urged the government to give youths a sense of belonging.

“The best thing government can do to better the life of the youth is by giving them a sense of purpose in the sense that they are exposed to vital information that can make them prosper in the 21st century,” he said.

The occasion chairman, Alhaji Umar Saro, who was represented by a University of Ilorin don, Prof. Badmus Yusuf, said the combination of Islamic and western education would produce a balance individual.

“A person who is deeply rooted in Islamic and western knowledge will be able to make remarkable legacy in the society by promoting justice,” he said.

He praised GIC for creating an enabling environment for people to belong to where they will be sober a little bit.

“I hope the audience will benefit tremendously from this gathering and they will apply the lesson learnt to their life,” he said.

The guest speaker, Prof. Abdulateef Abass, said the preservation of a social justice depends on each and every member of that society by freely adhering to the moral principles and practices.

Abass, the Head of Department of Arabic and Islamic studies in the University of Ibadan (UI), said: “The pillar that holds a society is justice. If we are able to deliver justice, the country will be at peace. We are in this problem because we don’t operate on justice. ” he said.