Ahmadiyyah’s “Ride for Peace”: Nigerians urged to embrace peaceful elections

By Bukola Hameed

As part of this year’s edition of “Ride for Peace”, a programme conceived by the national body of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation – Majlis Khaddamm-ul Ahmadiyya Nigeria, to “ride” and sensitise people about Ahmadiyya, Nigerians have been urged to embrace peaceful elections.

A release by the national president of the organisation, Mr Abdur Rokib Akintunde Akinyemi in Lagos said the executive body of the organisation concluded to use sport which is largely loved by Nigerian youths to promote its aims at every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

He said, ” the activity which was flagged off in Lagos state is now being held in about 15 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.

Speaking with our reporter in Oyo on Monday, the Security officer for South West region, Mr Salaam Nasir hinted that the objectives of the exercise revolved around this year’s theme, Attaining Peaceful Elections, which included sensitising people against election violence, educating people about voting without telling them to support any candidate or any party and preaching enduring peace in the society.

The event, according to Mr Nasir, featured personalities in and around Oyo town, including Alhaji Saheed Siyanbola popularly known as Omọ Iya Kunmi, Prince Dr Ayo Sanda Ladigbolu and a popular sport aficionado, King Raymond.

In Oyo however, the event took riders from Ahmadiyya mosque, Akeetan Titun, Atingisi to Owode-Akesan market-Idí Gẹdú-Oroki-Saabo-Jare Emily and finally back to Ahmadiyya mosque Akeetan Titun, Atingisi, Oyo.

“This is our annual tradition. We do ride bicycles to preach Islam, peace and essentiality of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation. All youth members across Oyo state converged on Oyo town this year.

We rode our bicycles to cover about 10.7 kilometres. We preached Islam through distribution of pamphlets. We did urge people to work towards attaining peaceful elections come 2023”, Nasir explained.