HIJRAH: OMU, NACOMYO, others identify causes of challenges, pray for peaceful election 2023

Nigerians irrespective of their religious, ethnic, cultural or political persuasions must put national interest above any other consideration as the 2023 general election is fast approaching.

These were the words of Organisation of Muslim Unity (OMU), made available to The DEFENDER at the weekend on the occasion of the celebration of Islamic New Year, Hijrah, the state capital.

The OMU said it was necessary that all citizens are united in the spirits and prayers to Allah to be guided aright in the search for a leader, who will take the nation out of the woods.

The organisation’s Chief Missioner, Ustaz Muhammadul Awwal Gumi, made this call while speaking at a special prayer session to usher in a month long series of activities marking the new Islamic lunar year 1444 AH.

He seized the occasion to caution the electorate against basing their decision at the polls on parochial sentiment.

While observing that security of lives and property is the most important responsibility of government, the Islamic scholar linked the challenge of insecurity currently facing the country to nonchalance of citizens towards Godliness.

He lamented that the challenges are more because the people relegated the consciousness of God to the background in their private and public affairs, even as he posited that it was about time Nigerians retraced their steps back to their creator because, according to the cleric, there is no way anyone can make headway here without following the manual of the maker.

Gumi said “Nigerians must never at any point lose hope in the efficacy of prayer as only God can touch the hearts of all and sundry to do the needful towards rewriting the history of the nation.”

Also speaking at the prayer session for the country, the Ondo State Coordinator, National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation (NACOMYO), Alhaji Yekeen Alli, said beginning of the new Hijrah year should be seen as a turning point to raise the bar of patriotism in Nigeria, especially at a time that” everyone seems to be pursuing selfish interest at the expense of collective benefits of entire society.”

According to the former Ameerah, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Alhaja Rafat Momoh, and the Iya Kewu of Akure Muslim Community, Alhaja Idayat Jimoh, the 2023 general elections should be seen as another golden opportunity for Nigerian women to stake their claim in national politics.

They said this should be done with their numerical strength through active engagement of candidates across all political parties in a give and take negotiations.

Other faithful at the prayer session, which featured recitation of the whole Qur’an, urged political gladiators to eschew violence in its entirety just as they urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voters registration exercise so as not to disenfranchise eligible voters.