Muslim leaders under the aegis of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society have set plans in motion to collaborate with governments in Nigeria in their efforts to combat corruption in the country.
This was disclosed at a one day sensitization programme tagged, Project EAT-FIn with the theme, ‘Encouraging Accountability And Transparency Through Faith Based Intervention’ held on Friday at the prestigious Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos.
The sensitization programme was in collaboration with the United States of America based Non-governmental Organization, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to intensify efforts towards educating Muslims believers at their various mosques on the need to do away with corrupt tendencies, actions and attitude.
The Executive Director EAT-In and Chief Imam for Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Adeyemi Fuad advised Muslims leaders across the country to make it a point of duty to consistently counsel their followers at their various mosques and worship centres against participating or involving themselves in corrupt activities.
According to the cleric, “the essence of the workshop is to re-empower the religious leaders, the Imams and the scholars to equip them on how things can get better in our society and communities.
“To achieve an egalitarian and a just society, Nigerians must make the choice of working very hard to ensure we see a corruption-free Nigeria. We must do something on corruption. If we don’t do something, something will do it for us,” he concluded.
Responding to questions from journalists, the project Director, Dr. Rekia Momoh Abaji, revealed that the focus of the sensitization workshop is to make Islam more understandable and acceptable to the people.
She said that the workshop, which is organised for the Islamic clerics, Imams, freelance preachers and Muslims scholars has been held in states like Osun, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, Kebbi and two others with the purpose of entrenching transparency and accountability.
“What we are set out to achieve is to see our Islamic Clerics to ensure they entrench transparency and accountability to the preachers who will in turn preach to their people in their various environments. The participants at the day’s event were drawn from the nooks and crannies of Lagos State.
“The Clerics have all pledged their readiness and willingness to take the messages passed unto them at the event to their brethren. The Clerics are expected to play the roles of Influencers across their immediate societies. The Clerics are the gate keepers and opinion leaders in our society. They will help to emphasize on the ills of corruption in our society”.
Dr. Rekia, while explaining corruption as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the Nigerian society and robbing the people of all their benefits, advised the people of the country to shun corruption in all their endeavors.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
