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  • Sultan, Yari, Muslim leaders seek urgent action against social media abuse, rising insecurity

    Sultan, Yari, Muslim leaders seek urgent action against social media abuse, rising insecurity

    Top Islamic leaders and lawmakers in Northern Nigeria have raised fresh concerns over rising insecurity and the growing misuse of social media, warning that the nation risks sliding into chaos if decisive action is not taken.

    Speaking at a special summit of Northern Ulamas in Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli called for urgent regulation of social media, which he said is being used to spread division and hatred.

    “This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah,” the Sultan urged. “Our clerics must preach peace, tolerance, and national unity in line with Islamic teachings.”

    House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who also addressed the summit, called for stronger collaboration between Islamic leaders and lawmakers to shape policies that promote peace and good governance.

    “Security is everyone’s business,” Doguwa said. “We in the National Assembly will support any initiative that unites our people and upholds Islamic values.”

    READ ALSO: CBN, finance ministry present Nigeria’s economic progress at G24 meetings

    Senator Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West) echoed similar concerns, noting that insecurity has deep roots in the North, especially in mineral-rich communities.

    “Insecurity started in Muslim-dominated areas,” Yari said. “We can’t blame the government alone. The solution lies in our hands — in unity, action, and honest dialogue.”

    He warned against the region’s worsening economic gap, saying: “We’re sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires. It doesn’t work that way. We must address economic realities.”

    On the issue of social media, Yari was blunt, “Social media doesn’t spare anyone — rich or poor. We are all victims of its abuse. It’s time to regulate it and use it responsibly, like other nations do.”

    Prominent cleric, Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, called for dialogue among Islamic sects to tackle poverty and banditry, which he said are being exploited by external forces.

    “Banditry is being fueled by outsiders who covet our mineral wealth,” Gumi warned. “They use uneducated herders as pawns in a larger game. We must talk among ourselves and end it internally.”

    He urged a review of existing laws to curb social media defamation without stifling freedom of expression. “This summit is not against anyone,” he said, “but about the unity and progress of Nigeria.”

    The summit ended with a collective call for inter-sect cooperation, peaceful dialogue, and stronger religious leadership to address insecurity, disunity, and economic hardship across the North.

  • Sanwo-Olu to Muslim leaders: we’ll be fair to all

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Governorship Candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday assured leaders of various Islamic organisations that his administration will be fair to them in policy formations if elected.

    Sanwo-Olu and his running mate Obafemi Hamzat had an interactive session with the Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota.

    According to the APC flagbearer, his administration will make regular consultations with the religious bodies and other stakeholders in the state before taking decision on issues affecting the state.

    Earlier, MCLS President Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi spoke on areas where the Muslim Community felt slighted with the present administration.

    Among them is the appointment of Tutor-Generals in education districts.

    The government, Prof Gbadamosi said, should be fair in its appointment of Tutor-Generals for the state.

    “As it stands, there is no Muslim among the six Tutor-Generals in the state. The current situation is skewed to Muslim advantage and we hope the incoming administration would correct the imbalance,” he said.

    On freedom of religion and worship, the Muslims leader sought for a clear policy and enforcement of freedom of religion and worship.

    He said: “There should be no religious discrimination or harassment in our public schools. Religious devotions should respect all, and must be encouraged on school’s morning assembly. Morning assembly should be made equal days for Muslims and Christians. Officially, all schools must close at 12 noon on Friday to enable Muslim pupils and teachers attend Jumat service as this will help in religious moral building of the societies.

    “Hijab must be allowed for willing Muslims students and pupils. However, this must conform to the school standard and adopted school uniform, More importantly, as we are still waiting for the Supreme Court judgment, we appreciate the State Government decision to uphold the Appeal Court ruling on Hijab, but not yet implemented in schools as the Tutor-Generals refused to pass on the circular containing the implementation. The Hijab issue might be major criteria among others for supporting any political party seeking the Muslims votes.”

    The Muslim, Prof Gbadamosi said, requests for the implementation of bill passed by the 7th Lagos State House of Assembly on establishment of Islamic Court of Law.

    “We want a window for Islamic conduct of marriages, divorce and inheritance cases in courts. Marriages conducted by Islamic centre and Muslim organisations be recognised and the creation of a registry to handle and register marriage conducted under Islamic Law,” he said.

    He lamented that lop-sidedness of the recently held Code Lagos.

    He said: “During the last Code Lagos training, we noticed that Lagos State government approved 32 churches and only two Mosques as CodelagosOut-of-School in Lagos. The information on the application to register and approve training centres was only made to the general public after the government had approved the church centres. Since this is a capacity development programme, any government coming in must create adequate opportunity to the capacity of Muslim youths in Lagos.”

    Read Also: Fayose, Olujimi fight over Atiku’s campaign council

    Prof Gbadamosi also lamented the high rate of moral decadence and juvenile delinquency in the state.

    This, he said, is due to government insincerity and neglect in the area of support for ideal way of life.

    “The government should ensure that skill acquisition for women and youth is of great concern to discourage immoralities and laziness when they have nothing doing. The government should have a policy on dress code in all higher institutions since nakedness is the bedrock of immoralities. Concerted effort should be made to eradicate drug abuse among youths. Lottery promo and bet games should be discouraged as it encourages laziness. Appointment of sizeable number of women and youth to some enviable position to serves as inspiration to coming generation. Reintroduction of literary debating society into schools not only in English Language but in all Languages (Arabic, French and local languages) will go a long way in curb immoralities among the youth,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu thanked the Muslim Community for thoughtful ideals in moving the state forward.

    According to him, some of the things said are part of what “we are expecting from the people. You have done the right thing by presenting those issues to us. There is nothing like governance with the people. We will look into all issues raised and addressed them.

    “We’ll be fair and transparent to Lagosians. You are an important stakeholder. We’ll not take you for granted,” he said.

  • Muslim leaders, other hail elevation of Anglican Archbishop

    Residents of the four local government areas of Akoko have lauded the recent elevation of Akoko Anglican Bishop, Revd Gabriel Akinbiyi, as Archbishop of Ondo Province.

    They described the development as a blessing to the people of the area especially with the recent approval of Police Area Command also in Akoko

    Ondo Province comprises of All Anglican Dioceses in Ondo and Ekiti states.

    According to an Islamic and community leader in the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani, the promotion of Akinbiyi as Archbishop is well deserved going by various developments the Anglican Church and the cleric have brought to Akoko land.

    Kilani noted he benefited from sound educational policies of the church even as a Muslim.

    He called on Akinbiyi to continue with the good work he was noted for in Akokoland, particularly on religion tolerance and peaceful co- existence of all faiths.

    Other stakeholders eulogised Akinbiyi for his burning love for evangelism and leadership virtues, which uplifted the area during his stewardship in Akoko.

  • Muslim leaders seek unity

    THE Muslims Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has moved to unite Muslims and Islamic organisations in Lagos State and its environs.

    At a meeting in Lagos, a delegation led by its President, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, met with the executives of Muslims Association of Nigeria (MAN).

    Gbadamosi told President of MAN, Alhaji Sulaiman Alabi Yusuf, and his delegation that the meeting was aimed at strengthening contacts to facilitate unity and collaboration in the interest of Muslims in Lagos State.

    He added that his delegation had met with other key Islamic organisations on the same mandate.

    Gbadamosi said: “There is so much work to do to ensure that all of us pool our resources together and work in unity on all the issues we want to tackle.

    “Because of this, there is need for us to establish one-on-one relationship at all levels and to meet and work together. This is the purpose of our meeting today.

    “The MCLS is an umbrella platform and an association for all Muslims in Lagos to come together to address common issues.

    “For example, the organisation wants to address the issue of standard education for all Muslims – whether for men, women, boys and girls – from the primary school to the university. Many of the people we want to focus on are falling by the way side and if this continues, they cannot sustain themselves or contribute to national growth.

    “If all the people are educated and enlightened, they can contribute their quota to national growth.”

    Gbadamosi said the organisation is a successor to the Nigeria Muslims Council because the latter is defunct.

    Yusuf said: “For some years, the idea has been mooted and a council has been established, which is the Lagos State Muslims Community. Now, they are inviting the representatives of MAN to come and be part of the executive council and other committees. We have given them our support that we are ready to collaborate with the organisation. The ultimate goal is foster unity so that we can develop the Muslim community.

    “Understand is very vital in any organisation and we need to work together to ensure the association’s success. The meeting was a successful one and we assured them we shall collaborate with the organisation.”

  • Buhari to clerics: Carry message of hope to Nigerians

    Buhari to clerics: Carry message of hope to Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his government is acutely aware of challenges of life facing the average citizen, appealing to Muslim leaders to carry the message of hope that things will soon improve to the people.

    Speaking at a meeting with the Council of Abuja Imams at the State House, the President requested religious leaders throughout the country to keep calming the people.

    According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President noted that the leadership at various levels is trying to solve problems of poverty, unemployment and insecurity bedeviling the nation.

    He said the government chose to give priority to agriculture so as to create jobs for unemployed citizens and give the country food security.

    Stressing that the efforts have begun, President Buhari said there was a bigger plan for the provision of fertilizers, insecticides and land preparations starting from next year.

    To key into this, the President requested state governments and community leaders across the country to organize the population into cooperative societies, pointing out that only extension services will be provided and not money.

    He also addressed the religious leaders on the efforts to improve power supply in the country with ongoing efforts to bring foreign investments from China and some friendly countries that indicated willingness in developing the proposed Mambila and other hydroelectric power projects in the country.

    He assured that the steps the government was carefully taking on the Niger Delta crisis would lead to a long term peace and stability in the region.

     

  • Ambode, Muslim leaders seek good governance for national growth

    Ambode, Muslim leaders seek good governance for national growth

    NIGERIANS have been urged not to see governance as “a one month show”, but a collective effort between leaders and followers.

    A cross-section of members of the association.
    A cross-section of
    members of the association.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, President, Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) Alhaji Sulaiman Yusuf, the association’s National Missioner, Alhaji Sheikh Sulaiman Eleshinmeta and Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf of the University of Lagos spoke at a Ramadan lecture organised by the National Council of MAN in Lagos.

    They said the lecture, titled: ‘’Governance, leadership and followership: Imperative for Nigerian National Development”, was apt and relevant, following the crisis facing the nation’s democracy.

    Ambode, who was represented at the event by Mr. Olalekan Akoju, said no matter how committed and forthright a leader may be, his success would be determined by the amount of support he enjoys from the people.

    The governor added:  “The importance of followership as a pre-requisite for progress and development is clearly alluded to in the Holy Quran, when Allah enjoined obedience not only to Him and His messengers, but also to those in position of authority.”

    He said he was committed to serving the best interest of all people, creating job opportunities for the youth and ensuring the general wellbeing of residents in a safe and secured environment.

    He appealed to Lagosians to play their part by performing their civic duties, including payment of taxes and obeying the laws of the land.

    ‘’For instance, when people pay their taxes, government is financially empowered to provide social amenities that make life more comfortable and meaningful for the people,” Ambode said.

    He enjoined the association’s members to continue to pray for his administration’s success.

    MAN President, in an interview with Southwest Report, said Nigerians were embarrassed by the National Assembly crisis.

    His words: “It takes us back to what we had in Ibadan in those days when people threw chairs and tables. Our politicians need to learn more, they need to be tolerant and they need to be faithful to the cause they are pursuing.

    “One of the things we discussed here today was selflessness. The moment leaders do not imbibe selflessness; there will be issues on ground. Nigerians expect our lawmakers to take issues of leadership and trust seriously.

    “Lawmakers must understand how to reach a compromise. Nigerians are expecting better performance and that was why they voted for change. The way our politicians started was a setback. They need to prove otherwise so that the people can rekindle their hope in them.

    A cross-section of members of the association.
    A cross-section of
    members of the association.

    “On the part of the citizens, we need not to be idle. We have to continue to engage our leaders. Let them know what we have on our minds. Let them know this is not what we voted for and they should sit up and do the right thing.

    “Many people are out there and they have not been paid their salaries. That is the kind of thing we should engage our leaders on.

    “We are at a crossroad now because we all know that the economy is bad and so, the lawmakers need to sit up and work closely with the President to ensure the economy is revived, services, infrastructure are improved upon.”

    The guest lecturer noted that the theme of the lecture from an Islamic viewpoint means that leaders and followers should come together and form a good government.

    He added that it was important for Muslims to educate themselves about the significance of the holy book always and during Ramadan.

    Quoting from Holy Quran, he said: “To form a government warrants leadership, which is the mechanism for administering the affairs of all creatures. It brings humanity closer to Allah and far away from perils through social justice, welfare improvement and security.

    “Leadership is a trust from Almighty Allah who says ‘I would place a leader on earth’’ Q2:30. The leader placed on earth was Adam – the ancestor of mankind whose duty was to guide his children, who produced the leaders of families, communities and nations.

    “For stable governance, both the leaders and the followers are counselled by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to be patriotic when he said: ‘Love of one’s country is part of faith in Allah’.

    “To avoid disagreement between the leader and the followers, Allah says: ‘’Obey Allah’s commandment, obey His messengers and obey those who are in authority. If you differ in anything, refer it to Allah and to his messengers. That is the best and most commendable in the end. Q4:59.”

    The university lecturer advised politicians to “get their acts together as quickly as possible because Nigerians are yearning for positive change”.

    He urged them to put aside personal ambitions and ensure that the interests of the masses are protected.

    Dr. Yusuf told the citizens to keep monitoring the activities of leaders to make them accountable.

    The association’s national missioner prayed for peace and growth of the nation and the citizenry.

    The lecture was attended by members of MAN branches, its executive members and Muslims from all parts of the country.

  • Akoko Muslim leaders visit VC

    The AAUA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, played host to the Muslim leaders in Akoko Land recently. The visitors were the leaders of the Muslim community in Akoko Southwest, Akoko Northeast, Akoko Northwest and Akoko Southeast.

    The Imam of Ikare Akoko and Chairman of the Muslim community in Akoko Land, Alhaji Abbas Muhammad, said the visit was a usual practice for the Muslim community to honour new leadership of the University.

    He said Ajibefun’ appointment as the new VC was not unconnected with his excellent records as Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.  He prayed that God would continue to give him strength and wisdom to take the university to greater heights and sought partnership between the community and the university.

    Responding, the VC assured the leaders of a mutually-rewarding partnership between the institution and the Muslim fold.

     

  • Muslim leaders, others condemn Boko Haram

    Muslim leaders, others condemn Boko Haram

    Muslim leaders across the world have criticised Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, for using the name of Islam to justify his threat to sell the abducted schoolgirls into slavery.

    Others have focused on what they say is a slow response by Nigeria’s government to the incident.

    The British and French governments announced on Wednesday that they would send experts to complement the U.S. team heading to Nigeria to search for the girls.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said China also offered assistance.

    Some of the reactions to the abduction came from countries with majority Muslims and some non-Muslim nations.

    In Egypt, Religious Endowments Minister Mohammed Mohktar Gomaa said: “The actions by Boko Haram are pure terrorism, with no relation to Islam, especially the kidnapping of the girls.”

    Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb of the Cairo-based Al-Azhar, one of Sunni Islam’s most prestigious institutions, said the abductions “completely contradict Islam and its principles of tolerance”.

    In Pakistan, Dawn, an English language newspaper, published an opinion piece that takes Nigeria to task for not moving against Boko Haram.

    It said: “The popular upsurge in Nigeria in the wake of the latest unspeakable atrocity provides some scope for hoping that the state will finally act decisively to obliterate the growing menace,” wrote columnist Mahir Ali.

    In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, the Jakarta Post published an editorial on Wednesday condemning the Boko Haram leader for “wrongly” citing Islamic teaching as his excuse for selling the abducted girls into slavery. Recalling the Taliban’s shooting of 15-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, in 2012 because of her outspokenness in defence of girls’ right to an education, the editorial said: “Malala’s message needs to be conveyed to all people who use their power to block children’s access to education. It is saddening that religion is misused to terrorise people and to kill the future leaders of the world.”

    The newspaper also criticised Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that “only after international condemnation and street demonstrations poured in did President Jonathan tell his nation that he would take all necessary actions to return the young women to their parents and schools, while also acknowledging that the whereabouts of the abductees remained unknown”.

    In Sweden, in an editorial posted on the left-wing news website politism.se, blogger Nikita Feiz criticised the international community for its slow response. It asked why the situation had not triggered as loud a reaction as when Malala was shot in Pakistan.

    “Looking at the situation in Nigeria, Malala appears like a false promise from the West that it would stand up for girls’ rights to attend school without fear of being subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse,” she said. “It is difficult not to draw the conclusion that the West’s assurance to act for girls’ rights suddenly isn’t as natural when it comes to girls’ rights in a country in Africa.”

    In the United States, the government is sending to Nigeria a team of technical experts, including American military and law enforcement personnel skilled in intelligence, investigations, hostage negotiating, information sharing and victim assistance, as well as officials with expertise in other areas.

    Fewer than 10 military troops are also going.

    In an editorial, The New York Times faulted the Nigeria’s President (Goodluck Jonathan).

    It said: “It wasn’t until Sunday, more than two weeks after the kidnappings, that he called a meeting of government officials, including the leader of the girls’ school, to discuss the incident.”

    In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the country would send a small team of experts to Nigeria, following protests over the weekend outside the Nigerian Embassy in London and editorials calling for action.

    Jonathan’s office later issued a statement that Britain would use satellite images and other tracking technologies to help in the search.

    In France: Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said his country was ready to send a “specialised team …to help with the search and rescue”.

    In China, Premier Li Keqiang visited Nigeria on Wednesday and met with Jonathan, whose office said the Chinese leader promised that his government “will make any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services available to Nigeria’s security agencies”.

    The statement also said China would support “Nigeria’s fight against terrorism in every possible way, including the training of military personnel for anti-insurgency operations”.

  • National Confab: Sultan, Muslim leaders protest alleged marginalisation

    National Confab: Sultan, Muslim leaders protest alleged marginalisation

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III Wednesday led some Muslim leaders to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa to protest the composition of the ongoing National Conference.

    Even though the Sultan declined to speak to journalists at the end of the closed door meeting with the President, the Secretary General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said that the President has assured them that there is no deliberate move to marginalize Muslims in Nigeria.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, Oloyede said: “We came to consult with Mr. President. We are happy we consulted with him, and he has given us reasons to re-assure us that Muslims in Nigeria are not deliberately marginalised and he has asked us to convey the feelings of the government, the genuineness of the government, the fairness of the government to the entire populace.”

    “That if there are issues that are not as they ought to be, they were not deliberate and we want to believe that Mr. President told us his mind but we also want to believe that while it is proper to protest, it is also proper to assume that a leader will always be just even if there are mistakes thereafter.”

    “We just felt that we must convey the feelings of the Muslims in Nigeria to Mr. President and he has given us his words to re-assure the Muslims community that he is a genuine and committed Christian who will not be unjust to others even,” he added

    Among the delegation are; Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai, former Head of Service of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammad Uwais.

    The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) had last week opposed the composition of the national conference claiming that Muslims in the country are being marginalised as the number of Christians at the conference is more than the number of Muslims.

    Stressing that the selection of delegates to the National Conference was not handled in a free and fair manner, Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu had said at press conference in Kaduna that Muslims were cheated in the process in spite of having the largest population.

    He said: “Although democracy is a game of numbers, this has not been respected. For instance, While Muslims constitute the majority in the country, Christians, who by all acceptable records are not more than 40 per cent of the country’s population, ironically constitutes 62 per cent of the total delegates.”

    “We find it as disrespect to the conscience of the Muslims that of the 20 delegates of the federal government, only six are Muslims. No Muslim is deemed fit to make the list of delegates from the Nigerian Economic summit. In fact in the representation of the security agencies Muslims have been so unimaginably short-changed with only one Muslim out of the six retired military and security personnel, one out of six retired security and NIA officers, and two out of delegates of the Association of Retired Police Officers. This means, of the 18 security experts belonging to these three groups, only 4 (22.2 per cent) are Muslims. The question is, why is this serious short-changing of Muslims in these very sensitive groups?” he stated