By Rasaq Adebayo
Muslim leaders in Lagos State have cleared air on the controversial statement by some “Islamic scholars” condemning participation in politics and or supporting political candidates by Muslims.
Accordingto them, those going against Muslims’ participation in politics trying to turn the potential Muslims apolitical lack the required knowledge of the real tenet of Islamic religion.
They said those ones are very few in number and cannot represent the Muslims in Lagos, saying even though some of them claimed to be scholars; they lack the understanding of Islamic teachings.
The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam AbdulRahman Ahmad, made the claim while declaring Muslims’ support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State governorship candidate under the party, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Before now, some few acclaimed Islamic scholars in Lagos State had frowned at Muslim participation or support for politicians claiming that those who involve in politics are pagans.
They had preached to discourage some Muslims from exercising their civil right by refraining from voting during the coming elections.
However, Imam Ahmad has countered their claim, saying it is Islamically right for all Muslims to participate in politics, citing verses that indicate that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was also political leader.
Another Chief Imam in Lagos, Imam Lukman Bello said those who Ara against Muslims’ participation in politics are not really Muslims.
According to him, they are extremists and those who seek to cause chaos in Islam.
Meanwhile, the Islamic leader said their support for the party is conditioned on agreement with both Tinubu as the next president and Sanwo-Olu as the governor of Lagos State.
According to him, the Islamic leaders will table their demands before the candidates which must be fulfilled after the Muslims would have fulfilled their own promise by voting enmass for them.
Imam Ahmad re-emphasised this during a meeting held with the Islamic leaders on Saturday by the Directorate of Religious Affairs of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council headed by Chief Oyinlomo Danmole.
At the meeting, the Islamic leaders who represented various Islamic societies and associations in Lagos reaffirmed their support for the Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu and other candidates of the ruling party.
The meeting which held on the premises of Lagos Television (LTV8) came barely two weeks after a similar one with Christian leaders in the state wherein the party got their diplomatic endorsement.
The religious leaders comprised the five divisional Imams in Lagos, Chief Imams from the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs across the state and heads of religious organisations among others.
The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, who spoke on behalf of the Muslim leaders stated that they are particular about progressive and qualitative governance and these happen to be what Tinubu presidency stands for.
He added that the religious leaders are decisive on whom to throw their weight behind already, emphasising that they will vote their conscience and where the interest of the nation will be best served.
His words: “We want reassurance; once we get assurance of quality governance and representation, we will offer our votes, our support. This is simple. It is not a matter of emotive support, it is not a matter of whether we are going to vote or we do not know what we want. Not for us personally, not for our pockets but for Nigeria collectively. Whether we are Muslims or Christians or those who do not belong to any religion. That’s the crux of the matter.
“Once we are reassured, once there’s a renewal of the contract, we are all for it and we are promising that we will vote wisely; we will vote our conscience. We will vote for where our interest will be best served. We are seeing that this is the place. This is not a campaign. This is an interaction and that is what we are emphasising. We know Asiwaju when he was governor of Lagos State and now he’s stepping into something bigger and we need a bigger reassurance. A renewal of that.”
Another Islamic leader, who explained the criteria for supporting Tinubu said the APC presidential candidates satisfies all the criteria.
According to him, the Muslims are supporting Tinubu because he is also a Muslim; the Yorubas are supporting him because he is a Yoruba; others are supporting him because he has good records while so many others across the nation are supporting him because of his capability to turn around the country for better.
In his reaction to their demands, the Party Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi reassured that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Mantra is what the nation needs and promised that it is a social contract that will be honored.
Commenting on the engagement, Ojelabi said; “It is a welcome development. It’s a way of encouraging them, sensitising them to key into the role that is expected of them as leaders. Encouraging their followers to go out there to participate in the general elections. As the chairman of the party, I am before you, soliciting your support for my political party. That’s why I am here. I’ve listened to you. Engagement is a continuous process.”
He, however, appreciated the religious scholars for their prayers for the state governor during the turbulent time of Ebola, Covid-19, and EndSARS. He charged them to sustain their spiritual support as well as the awareness campaign on PVC Collection, stressing that it is one of the ways to influence governance.
“They should continue to encourage their people to continue to take their possession and what’s their possession, the PVC. Once you don’t have the PVC there is no way you can participate in the election and once you don’t participate in the election, how will you criticize when you have not contributed to it and the means where you can contribute is to vote for the candidate of your choice. We have turned it to them also, as leaders, when you’re giving your sermon encourage their people to go out there to collect their PVC if want o contribute to the growth of this country,” he said.
On his part, the Director General of the directorate, Chief Oyinlomo Danmole expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the strategic meeting, noting that it is one of the strategies the directorate is employing to help the party in delivering its 5-million-vote-target for Tinubu so as to guarantee a resounding victory for Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat and other candidates of the party.