Yinka Salaam, Osogbo
Muslims across Nigeria have been urged to participate in politics and ignore calls from extremists who are ignorantly calling them to shun politics.
The call was made by stakeholders and resource persons at the Press Conference on the State of the Nation and the Political Seminar organised by the Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation over the weekend at Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.
The National Coordinator, Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation, Dr. Abdulhafeez Bello said the current situation in the country has made it imperative for Muslims to participate actively in politics, particularly as the 2023 general elections draw closer.
He noted that, Muslims, being the majority in the country must take their faith in their hand by ensuring active participation in determining who becomes their leader, saying Muslims must be interested in how the country is ruled by ensuring capable and God-fearing leaders are elected into position.
The Islamic scholar said Islam encourages Muslims to be part of governance, as unanimously agreed by reputable Muslim scholars.
Tasks government to be responsive
Bello appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action in addressing myriad of issues bedeviling the nation, including economic hardship and insecurity.
He however commended President Muhammad Buhari for signing the 2022 Electoral Amendment Bill into law, describing it as a major landmark that verifies the mantra of Mr President: “I am for nobody; I am for everybody”.
“The recent elections in Ekiti and Osun State also further attest to the importance of this bill.
“Our election in the past was usually marred by widespread rigging, violence, voter’s intimidation, and the use of federal might which now appear to be things of the past. All candidates were given a level playing field and this was enhanced by the introduction of voter’s authentication system – Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the INEC.
“There is a significant increase in voters registration which has led to a renewed enthusiasm in our elections by the populace. President Buhari’s enduring effort in this regard as well the INEC Chairman will be entrenched in the history of free and fair elections in the country.”
SB National Coordinator however observed that a major pending challenge with Nigeria’s elections is ‘vote buying’ being practiced by politicians, especially at the venue of elections.
“This is degrading to our citizens and undermines the integrity of the Nigerian voter.
“We hope Government can fashion a means of combating this, especially with the fear of the aftermath that may follow: either refusal to collect, or to collect and still reject the candidate who facilitated the bribe”, he said.
Conditions for political participation
Meanwhile, a notable Nigerian scholar, Dr Sirajudeen Bilaal Al Asrau, while discussing the topic: Political Participation in non-Muslim Nations: Ethics and Rulings highlighted the conditions for Muslims’ participation in politics.
He stressed that Muslims should participate in politics and voting, saying they have the right to participate in the process that will elect their leaders.
“Muslims are allowed to participate in politics and should be encouraged to do so, but with salient conditions. One, he who comes out to contest must remember those who chose or elected him. He must also strive to fulfill all promises made to the electorates and citizens. He must be sincere with his commitments”, he said.
Citing copiously from Qur’an, Hadith, history and Islamic authorities, Sheikh Asrau said the extreme stand which condemns Muslims’ participation in politics is strange to Islam and can only enslave and ostracise Muslims, especially in a secular and cosmopolitan society like Nigeria.
The Sheikh condemned as extremists, those who castigate Muslims for participating in politics. The described such people as enemies of the nation, who only wish to perpetuate the dictatorship of the minority over the ignorant majority.
Dr Asrau further urged Muslim politicians to see politics as holding trust for Allah and as service to humanity.
He said politicians, particularly the Muslims, must fear Allah in the discharge of their duties, just as voters must realise voting translates to bearing witness to Allah on the competence of the candidate being voted for.
The Sheikh held that whoever votes a wrong candidate or a less qualified person because of bribery, inducement, bigotry, tribalism or favouritism will have Allah to contend with, saying such person risks the wrath of Allah in this world and the hereafter.