2023: Day South West Muslim leaders converged on Ibadan for Tinubu engagement
*With your pedigree of good governance we are sure you will perform – MUSWEN
*If elected, ensure Nigeria free of insecurity, tribalism and unemployment – League of Imams and Alfas
*We gather to know and ask person seeking our votes if we can trust him – AbdulRahman Ahmad
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
President of Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Fattah Thanni, who also spoke at the event, in his goodwill message, linked the coming of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the current political situation in Nigeria’s transition period, to the similitude of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace of Allah be upon him, of scriptural history, recalling how Allah used the “beyond-description” handsome Prophet to fix problems of the world at a time things were so bad.
The day earlier appeared like it would never come but eventually it came. That was Sunday December 11, 2022. The day the South West Muslim leaders, individuals and groups – under the aegis of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) – had picked to engage with All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a view to knowing whether or not, as crafted by Sheikh AbdulRahman Olanrewaju Ahmad, it is the same Tinubu that they knew, believed and trusted yesterday that is still the Tinubu that seeks them to support and cast their votes for him today.
This summarizes the whole idea behind what transpired during the Town Hall meeting that attracted attendance of very prominent Muslim leaders, personalities and notably leading Muslim groups mainly the League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo/Delta, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NACOMYO), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and, of course, state leaders and members of Muslim Councils from across the predominantly Yoruba speaking geopolitical zone of the nation including Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and, of course, Oyo, base of the convener that is the umbrella body for Muslims in the South West of Nigeria, MUSWEN.
The meeting started around 1:00pm, three hours behind schedule. It, however, was described by many as a very highly successful town hall meeting being the first time the “much persecuted” Muslim population of South West (in terms of rights to freedom of religious practice) were being involved in the determination of who governs the country they jointly own with others. The delay in starting off the meeting was due to the fact that it was tied to arrival and physical presence of the candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, who explained why it took him time to arrive.
“It was 5:00am this morning that we returned from United States of America. As we finished our subhi prayers, we wanted to have a short snap that is sleep as we won’t be able to come again. It was the woman that came with me (Hadiza Bala Usman), daughter of my friend, who insisted that, ‘No. We have made them a promise and, so let each and everyone not sleep and we should prepare to start going’, she and (Dimeji) Bankole. We thank Allah that we arrived here safely in good condition and we met you in good condition and happiness, full house with much prayer. Allah that put you together will not scatter you,” Tinubu prayed for the South West Muslim leaders.
In his welcome address, the President of MUSWEN, Alhaji Razaki Oladejo, said the town hall meeting was convened for the purpose of affording Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the opportunity to interface with Muslim leaders in the South West region on his plans as APC Presidential Candidate for a better Nigeria, if elected.
In an ostensibly loaded word, Oladejo said, “With your pedigree of good governance, we are sure that, if elected, you will definitely take Nigeria to a greater height.”
Prayer for Nigeria, Buhari and Tinubu
Leading a special prayer for Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, Sheikh AbdulRahman Olanrewaju Ahmad, said: “We ask Allah (subhanauwatahala) to enable us to achieve the mission that we have set for ourselves as a country, as a people and that is the mission of greatness.”
Sheikh Ahmad, who prayed Allah to unite the hearts of Nigerians especially Muslims for peaceful co-existence, noted that the Ibadan meeting was not to campaign but that, “we have gathered here to know and to ask the person who is seeking to govern us if he is still the same person we knew yesterday, to know whether we can still trust him today.”
The demands
Delivering his keynote address, President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo/Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, put demands before Tinubu, which included for him to ensure a Nigeria where insecurity will no longer thrive, work on making jobs available for youths as, according to him, it does not speak well of a country as big as Nigeria that children will be sent to school only to graduate and they have no gainful employment, and thirdly, for Tinubu, if elected, to work on unity of Nigeria against whisperings of tribalism and religious sentimentalism.
He said, “Tinubu says ‘Emi Lokan’ and we too are now saying here today that ‘Awa Lokan’,” the League of Imams and Alfas Presidential-General said, although his declaration, interpretably meaning endorsement, does not mean the position of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), an umbrella body that covers all Muslims across political parties hence its President, Alhaji Oladejo, did not endorse but expressed confidence in the ability of Tinubu of APC to govern Nigeria well, if elected.
President of Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Fattah Thanni, who also spoke at the event, in his goodwill message, linked the coming of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the current political situation in Nigeria’s transition period, to the similitude of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace of Allah be upon him, of scriptural history, recalling how Allah used the “beyond-description” handsome Prophet to fix problems of the world at a time things were so bad.
Thanni, who is Chairman, Council of Ulamau of Nigeria (CUN), prayed for success of the former Lagos State governor as he asked Allah to use him, like Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), to solve and fix the problem of Nigeria. Facing Tinubu he prayed that, “as Prophet Yusuf succeed, you will succeed inshallah.”
In her message, National Amirah of FOMWAN, Alhaja Rabiat Sanni, gave a mindboggling revelation about a woman, who died during labour and asked Tinubu, as one of three demands she made on behalf not only of Muslim but also general women of Nigeria, to provide a medical system that will see to virtually zero maternal mortality in the country.
“We are still in mourning mood for losing one of us due to inadequacy of a health centre in one of the local governments that I will not like to mention (here in Oyo State). She was giving birth, the baby’s head was already out but had not come fully when the mother gave up…This touches our hearts that in our health centres there is no doctor, even what you have there that is called pharmacy, there are no drugs. We want you, if elected, to make all health centres in Nigeria to be well equipped so we will not have such situation again.”
Describing as unfortunate a situation where women helping their husbands on educating and training of children never lived to see the fruit of investments in their children due to lack of gainful employment, the FOMWAN Amirah demanded that, in event that Tinubu scales through to the Presidency, he should make jobs available for every Nigerian child, who has achieved educational qualifications and vocational trainings.
She emphatically demanded that, if elected, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should ensure that Muslims will no longer be deprived of their rights, especially in the South West, and that all female Muslim children and adults will be able to wear their Hijab in schools and offices without hindrance.
Dr. Mohammed Bala Lau, National President of Jama’atul Izalatul-Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah, said in Yoruba through his representative that at election, “Nigerians should seek Allah for an Asiwaju (a leader), who will love us and whom we will love.”
Dr. Lau urged Muslim Imams to have unified Friday sermons to enable the Ummah have unity of purpose, noting that, “If we talk of politics, that is what we are here for and if we talk of campaign, yes, that is what we are here for, so also if we talk of coming to know what Asiwaju Tinubu have for the Muslim Ummah of South West, it is also what we are here for.”
The Islamic leaders wanted Tinubu to do more on peace, unity, health, youth employment, alleviation of poverty and infrastructure development when he becomes President of Nigeria.
Response
Responding, Tinubu speaking in Yoruba said, “Allah is set to accept the prayers of Nigerians.”
The APC Presidential Candidate, who spoke last at the heavily attended Jogor Centre hall in Ibadan, Oyo State capital event on Sunday December 11, 2022, assured the South West Muslim leaders that he would fulfill his promise of Renewed Hope for Nigerians, if elected as the next President of the country.
Touched by the concerns expressed by FOMWAN National Amirah, Alhaja Rabiat Sanni, about a woman who died during childbirth, Tinubu promised to put an end to maternal mortality in Nigeria, if elected.
“Amulumala le ma gbo leni o. Abula kuku ni awon Ibadan je ju”, he started his speech in Yoruba on a jovial note to be excused for using what, in linguistic study, is called code–mixing, meaning mixing of two or more languages or language varieties in a speech.
He continued, “I, first and foremost thank you, the MUSWEN, who organised the event of today. Allah will not make it a source of regret, sorrow and evil for you. All your children too will succeed in life and will grow beyond our own reach,” he prayed while also acknowledging the presence of Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. AbdulKadir Obafemi Hamzat, Oyo State APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, at which mention the whole hall went up in huge praises and political songs signifying approval of APC for the Oyo’s 2023 project, and also then went on to acknowledge the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, who he said spoke well with the words and prayers from the Holy Qur’an.
The promises
Referring to the FOMWAN Amirah’s concerns, Tinubu said, “I heard all that you have said and also heard what our mother said about a woman that died at childbirth due to lack of adequate medical handling. May Allah not return us to that unfortunate situation, forward we shall henceforth be moving by God’s grace. I am assuring you today, and may Allah accept our prayers, that if you prepare and take me there (the seat of President), that sort of sorrowful situation will never befall us again.
“You said the truth. Under no circumstances should there be government and there is no effective healthcare system that takes care of women at labour, doctor and drugs for adequate treatment. May Allah, who has blessed Nigeria with all kinds of resources, restore normalcy to Nigeria and put good thought and sincerity into my own hearts over what I seek to achieve, so as for me to bring all promises that I have made with you to fruition. That is most important,” he said, adding by promising the Muslims of Yoruba Land that, if elected, his administration will ensure peace, unity and developmental growth in the country.
Bola Tinubu, who described the forthcoming transitional election as “Nigeria’s momentous encounter with destiny”, urged Imams in the region to use the power of their Mimbar (pulpits) in educating and do more enlightenment for their congregants about the importance of exercising their franchise by taking part in the election process through voting exercise.
This call may have been informed by what he called the hybrid of facts and falsehood, truth and lies that have pervaded the ongoing process in the quest to occupy the Office of President of Nigeria as he seized the opportunity afforded him by the MUSWEN-led Town Hall meeting to tell Nigerians what they should look out for.
“I would like the election to be issued based, facts and truth. What is a candidate’s record of performance and what are his policies? I ask you to urge your followers to come out and vote and to do so wisely. Vote for a candidate that has vision for a peaceful, prosperous Nigeria, where tolerance and compassion undergird our constitutional and legal rights.
“My pledge for fairness and justice is consistent with the tenets of Islamic faith. A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern in an honest and democratic manner in harmony with our nation’s Constitution,” he said.
Also, Tinubu talked about what his administration, if elected, will do with the economy. He promised diversification of the economy, done towards achieving growth, then promised enhanced productivity and improved farming income for a guaranteed food security in the country.
“Regarding the economy, we seek to repair the very structure of the economy. We can no longer flourish as an economy based on natural resource extraction. We must become a dynamic, diversified economy where those who want to work can find a good job. But let us also be a society sufficiently compassionate to help those who cannot help themselves.
“We must revive manufacturing and industrial growth so as to create jobs as well as produce the goods and services that improve the daily lives of the average person.
“We seek a minimum of six percent growth annually through reform of our industrial policy, infrastructural enhancement, power sector innovation, and significant budgetary reform.
“In the end, may no Nigerian parent send a child to bed hungry, despairing what tomorrow might bring. Instead, let all of our children, regarding of their faith or creed, be able to lay their heads down believing in a better tomorrow of hope renewed,” the former Governor of Lagos State said.
The roll call
Our Reporter, who attended the event and captured it live, reports that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended the event with APC leaders such as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. AbdulKadir Obafemi Hamzat, and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and former Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman.
On the ground, alongside the President of MUSWEN Alhaji Razaki Oladejo, to receive the august visitor included former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Senator Shefiu Adegbenga Kaka, Chairman Governing Board of Federal College of Education, Iwo, Alhaji Liad Tella, President, Council of Ulamau of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Fattah Thanni, President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo/Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, Sheikh AbdulRahman Olanrewaju Ahmad, National Amirah, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Alhaja Rabiat Sanni, Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Council, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sani, the APC’s Oyo State Governorship Candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, Oyo South Senatorial Candidate, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, Oyo North Senatorial Candidate, Dr AbdulFatai Buhari, and Oyo Central Senatorial Candidate, Dr Yunus Akintunde.
Other dignitaries in attend were former Minister of Communications, Dr. AbdulRaheem Adebayo Shittu, Chairman/Chief Executive, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan, Chairman Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Habibullahi Akinpelumi, former Managing Director, defunct Trade Bank Plc, Alhaji Ekungba, Ijebu-Ode based Islamic scholar, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Mayaleeke, former MUSWEN Executive Secretary, Prof. Daud Noibi, Oyo State APC Chairman, Isaac Omodewu, former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, and Senator Soji Akanbi, a Lagos-based school proprietor, Sheikh Jamiu Tirimisiyu Akano, MUSWEN Executive Secretary, Professor Muslih Yahya, Chief Imam of Challenge Muslim Community, Ibadan, Oyo State, Sheikh Ibrahim Najimdeen Musa Al-Murshid, among others.
Other photos from the event below:
