Dr Mash’hud Fashola, the Amir Sahib (Leader), Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, has urged religious leaders in the country to unite to demand good governance.
He spoke on Saturday in Ibadan, at the end of a two-day visit to the Akinyele Circuit of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at.
The two-day visit featured a lecture, media interaction, as well as visit to University of Ibadan, Olubadan of Ibadan and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.
Fashola, who is a former Head, Department of Economics, University of Lagos, said religious leaders should bury their sectional, denominational and religious differences, and unite toward taking the country out of its predicament.
He said that the problem of the country was a consequence of dishonesty, corruption and fraud, which religious leaders ought to address in preaching.
“Religion has failed in Nigeria because our some of our religious leaders are preaching something else instead of preaching truthfulness, honesty and piety required for nation-building.
“Imagine a contractor who collected N250 million for a project that could be executed with N50 million. These are some of the things affecting the country today.
“Our hypocrisy knows no bound. We are religious but not God fearing, and our religious leaders are expected to change the people. We can challenge government in unity to move the nation forward,” he said.
Fashola said that the solution to the nation’s problems starts from churches and mosques, urging religious leaders to unite to demand good governance.
“Our religious leaders should stop the habit of honouring wealthy people in our community who have made their wealth from corrupt, fraudulent and other questionable means.
“It is a pity that our youths are also very lazy. What we should be preaching to them now is hard work and dignity of labour,” the cleric said.
He commended the Catholic Bishops on their recent visit to the presidency over the country’s situation, bemoaning the prevalent stealing, looting and killings in the country.
Fashola called on all arms and tiers of government to ensure Nigerians have jobs and are able to put food on their tables.
He said adequate provision of these would reduce insecurity and crime significantly.
The Islamic leader, during his visit to UI where he was received by Prof. Ambrose Emilolorun, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), appreciated the leadership of the varsity for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere.
Fashola said the level of moral decadence in the society was alarming, urging the institution’s leadership not to relent in promoting morality among the youth.
Pa Raji Adewale, the Akinyele Circuit President, described Fashola’s visit as home coming, saying he was born in Ibadan.
Adewale, in his address, said the circuit was doing well in the area of administration, infrastructure, fiscal status, welfare and also spiritually.
He led Fashola on the visitation to the palace of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniyu Abubakri.
Fashola performed the turning of sod of Baitul-Rahman Mosque at Unity Estate, Aroro in Ibadan and visited five Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in the Akinyele circuit of Ibadan.(NAN)
