Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians to give priority to competence and ensure they place it above religion.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned Obasa said this during the 14th Annual Hijrah Lecture organized by the Muslim community of the Lagos state House of Assembly which was held at the House of Assembly complex, Lagos on Wednesday.
Obasa also urged religious bodies in the country to promote issues that would unite Nigerians rather than dwelling on the ones that would divide them .
He said the political parties presenting a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket or a Christian-Christian presidential ticket should not be considered important by Nigerians but rather the good intentions of the contestants.
‘Let us not allow politicians to bamboozle us with religion as a determining factor for who we will choose as our leader.
Therefore, at this time when Nigeria stands at its most critical juncture in history with regard to the 2023 general election, there is a crucial call for religious bodies to deploy their collective spiritual energies and help in not only undermining the negative forces of nepotism and dysfunctionality but to also positively enhance the development of Nigeria’ he said.
The Speaker added that as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, being a secular state, there was no provision for the elevation of a particular form of religion over another, saying ‘no religion should be in charge of the government. What we have is freedom of religion’.
‘In some states of the country where either a Muslim or Christian had been in charge without any meaningful performance or development, this invariably translates to the fact that religious faith does not determine the success of a given government at whichever level’ he said.
Obasa asked Nigerians to consider a competent, qualified, accomplished, and knowledgeable individual for the job irrespective of the religious background.
‘In countries like the democratic states in Asia and some other parts of the world where neither Islam nor Christianity is being practiced, it is gratifying to note that good governance is seen all around them.
There is no doubt that Nigeria is at a precarious phase in its existence as a nation. These are indeed trying times for Nigeria and Nigerians.
My opinion is that we should focus more on how the failure of politics and faith has compromised the unraveling of the Nigerian project’ he added.
An Islamic Cleric, Dr Ishaq Sunuusi, who was the Guest Speaker , said Islam is about peace, love, compassion, understanding and justice.
Sunuusi, who condemned those opposing the APC because of its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, urged Nigerians to avoid provocative statements and promote peace.
He said there had been instances when there were Christian-Christian leaders at both the state and the Federal levels.
Also speaking, Justice Abdurraheem Sayi of the Kwara state Shariah Court of Appeal, called for uniformity among Churches and Mosques.
Sayi said there was no difference between Christians and Muslims adding that God had created everybody equally.
‘Let us not be arrogant. You must love yourself and love others. We should not preach hatred and disaffection in any religion.
Pastors and Imams must lead people to virtue and some lives have not been touched the way they ought to have been touched.
Prosperity teachings lead to high financial crimes. When religious leaders are after prosperity, then there will be no virtues’ he said.
The Chief Imam of Offa , Sheik Muyideen Husayn, also noted that ‘Politics is different from religion’ adding that ‘Nigerians are one’
‘Religion should be separated from nation- building. All men of God are the same, so we should help one another.
It is the duty of the followers to elect the leaders and we should stop saying that ‘politics is a dirty game’ he added- Team@orientactualmags.com
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