And hold fast to the cord of Allah and do not be disunited. And remember the Mercy of Allah upon you when you became adversaries to one another and Allah saved you from falling into the quagmire of Hell by reconciling your hearts with love. That is Allah’s way of illustrating His signs to you that you may be grateful”. Q. 3: 103
Preamble
This article was meant for publication in this column on Friday, April 29, 2016. That was about five days after the second General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) was held on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
That the article was not published as scheduled was not the fault of yours sincerely.
The venue of the General Assembly was the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan. More than 350 delegates, including the Chairmen and Secretaries of the six States’ Muslim Councils/Communities in the Southwest and a sizable number of prominent guests from the region were in attendance.
Roll Call
The Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Senator Ishak Abiola Ajimobi, was ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ishmael Lekan Ali.
A onetime World Court Judge and Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice, His Excellency, Prince Abdul Jabbar Bola Ajibola, who is also the Chairman of MUSWEN’s Board of Trustees was present.
Also, a former Inspector-General of Nigeria Police, Alhaji Musliu Smith and a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Najeem Awodele were among the prominent personalities present at the occasion.
Among other prominent personalities present were a former Deputy Director-General of the Stock Exchange, Alhaji Rasak Oladejo, a onetime President of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Sulaiman Owoyemi and the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of the Southwest, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello as well as the Secretary-General of the League, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe.
Also present were a retinue of professors, including T. G. O. Gbadamosi, Lateef Hussein, SHA Malik, AF Ahmad, M. O. Abdul Rahman, K. K. Oloso, Taoheed Adedoja and others too many to be listed here.
There were others like the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh Abdul Ganiyyi Ajigbotomokekere as well as Baba Isale Adini of Ibadan, Alhaji Lateef Oyelade.
It was not all an men affair as some frontline Muslim women in the region were conspicuously present.
These include Iya Adinni of Yoruba land, Alhaja Sekinat Adekola, Dr. (Mrs.) Lateefah Durosinmi (a former national Amirah of FOMWAN), Alhaja Surura Oyero, the current National PRO of FOMWAN; Alhaja Simiat Ogundiran, the Amirah of FOMWAN, Oyo State, Alhaja Faosat Aliu, Amirah of FOMWAN, Ondo State; Alhaja Medina Akanni, Amirah of Criterion, Oyo State; Alhaja Rafat Momoh, a former Amirah of MUSWEN, Ondo State and many others that cannot be accommodated here.
Opening Remark
In his opening remark at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof D. O. S. Noibi gave a brief situation report of MUSWEN’s first General Assembly held in 2015 and the secretariat activities sequel to that event.
He also relayed the various MUSWEN’s achievements in the year ending and seized the opportunity to project the expected achievements in the year ahead.
The Chairman of the GA’s 23 member Planning Committee was Professor Muhib O. Opeloye while the Secretary was Alh. Tajudeen Alabede, the Assistant Director, Programmes and Corporate Services of MUSWEN
Life like weather
Life is like weather. It changes posture from season to season. If the weather is too hot in summer, let no hope be lost. A clement weather may be experienced in winter. There is no weather without effect. Nigerians are currently in an uncertain economic weather in which nothing is predictable with precision.
This was the situation that influenced the theme of MUSWEN’s second General Assembly held penultimate Sunday. That theme was ‘Zakah and Poverty Alleviation’.
Nigerian Muslims have been perennially facing two fundamental problems. One is poverty, the other is ignorance. A solution to one can automatically proffer a solution to the other. But the failure on the parts of the concerned stakeholders to search for any solution at all has consistently remained a spectre tormenting the faith of most Muslims day and night.
The president’s welcome address
In his welcome address, at the occasion, the President of MUSWEN, His Excellency, Dr. Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola OON said inter alia that:
“….Despite the fact that we are operating in a particularly difficult time in the nation’s history, MUSWEN has recorded a number of accomplishments since our last General Assembly, especially with efforts that were geared towards deepening and widening relations with stakeholders within the Ummah both within and outside the region”.
“With effective coordination by the Secretariat, the active collaboration of the other organs of MUSWEN and the State Councils/Communities as well as the critical support of other stakeholders, it is heart-warming that MUSWEN has continued to serve as the rallying point for Muslims in the region”.
State of the Nation
Talking about the state of the nation as at the time of the General Assembly, the President of MUSWEN said:
“It is especially significant that inspite of the fears that we all had early last year, Allah helped us to survive the negative predictions about the 2015 general elections…. There is no gain saying the fact that our dear nation, Nigeria, is passing through a difficult time. In the last few years, the socio-economic climate has been tough. People are daily faced with hard choices. Insecurity, corruption and poor economy have continued to plague the nation”.
“It is gratifying, however, that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is making frantic efforts to get Nigeria out of the woods.
The battle against insurgency in the Northeast is giving Nigerians the hope that, in not too distant future, that part of the country would regain its peace that was shattered some years back”.
“A sad development arising from the dastardly act of insurgency was the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
It is worrisome that for over two years now, the Chibok girls have remained in bondage. I, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to do all it could to ensure the safe return of the girls to their families. But more importantly, let us fervently pray to Allah for the safety and return of the girls”.
“In the same vein, the fight against corruption could not have come at a better time. Given the amount of information about the level of corruption that Nigeria had sunk into, one can only say that we are really fortunate that Nigeria is now on its way back to sanity and global respect.
To this end, the President and his team need the support and prayers of all well-meaning Nigerians, including Muslims, as they strive to reset the nation on the path to progress and greatness”.
State of the Region
Appraising the situation of the Southwest region, Alhaji Babalola made the following observation:
“The Southwest region of Nigeria is blessed by Allah with abundant human and natural resources. What’s more, the region is noted for setting the pace in matters of progress and development. It is not for nothing that this region is home to Nigerians from diverse backgrounds who seek means and ways to fortune and personal progress….”
“While I must acknowledge the challenges faced by the state governments in the region in their desire to develop the region, our people have no reason to be poor.
I, on behalf of Muslim stakeholders in the region, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to appeal to our political leaders in the region to pool their resources together and make genuine effort to revamp and integrate the economies of the states for the greater glory of the region and our people”.
He continued thus: “In the same vein, I am delighted about the atmosphere of peace and religious harmony that continues to exist among our people irrespective of their religious affiliations. This is a tradition that has earned the Southwest region the respect of other people. However, experience has shown that more still needs to be done.
Of particular significance is the need for more accommodation of Muslims in the political structure of Ekiti State. Muslims in the state deserve a better deal. The principles of equity, fairness and inclusive leadership need to be adequately respected in multi-stakeholder settings like ours”.
And in conclusion, the President of MUSWEN said: “I must not end this address without recognising the critical support of the State Councils/Communities, the League of Imams and Alfas, major Muslim title holders, Islamic organisations and other stakeholders whose sustained commitment has continued to make the idea of MUSWEN a pleasant reality: “K’ajo kan l’awa nse” (to be one united body is our objective)”.
The BOT Chairman
In his own remark, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Prince ‘Abdul Jabbaar Bola Ajibola, SAN, KBE, CFR, LLD, DLitt, FNIALS, after welcoming the delegates and guests to the second General Assembly, commended the Presidency of MUSWEN for cooperating with the Board of Trustees in working for unity, welfare and progress of the Muslim Ummah saying:
”As the custodians of the shared values of our organisation, the BOT has followed with keen interest and a sense of satisfaction the various indicators of progress in MUSWEN since the last General Assembly.
The BOT is particularly glad to note that MUSWEN has been successful in reaching out to an increasing number of corporate and individual stakeholders within the Ummah and beyond.
There is no doubt about the fact that this is surely the best way to further strengthen the organisation for the benefit of the Ummah.
Deputy President-General of NSCIA
The support of the stakeholders to the BOT in the course of consultations on the nomination of a new candidate for the position of Deputy President-General (South) of NSCIA is particularly commendable.
This Second Assembly should, therefore, be regarded as an opportunity for us to resolve to build on the successes recorded so far in this and other regards. The various organs of NSCIA should, on the other hand, resolve not to rest on their oars but to do more for the benefit of the apex body.
About the theme
In view of the importance of the theme of the Second Assembly – Zakah and Poverty Alleviation – the BOT wishes to commend all of those who have been supporting MUSWEN financially, believing that Allah will continue to reward them most richly in fulfilment of His promise. It is my hope that the theme will deepen our collective consciousness to support the cause of Islam financially for the general good of the Ummah.
Keynote Address
The Keynote address was delivered by yours sincerely on the neglected pillar of Islam called Zakah vis a vis the overwhelming poverty threatening the lives of majority of Nigerian Muslims. The contents of that address as well as the general report of the Central Working Committee of MUSWEN and that of the first General Assembly held in 2015 cannot be brought here because they are too lengthy to be accommodated in a one page article. There is hope that both and some other related issues, will be published in this column in a foreseeable future.
