By Razaq Bamidele
Dateline was Wednesday. Venue was the Daddison Hotel, GRA Ikeja and the event was the launch of a book, ‘Islam in Yorubaland: History, Education, Culture’ produced by the Muslim Ummah of Western Nigeria (MUSWEN).
The list of dignitaries that attended the event, despite the Ramadan fast, was long and inexhaustible. In attendance were, the Sultan Of Sokoto and President-General, Supreme Council Of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, a first class monarch in Yorubaland and the Oonirisa of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Enitan, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurrasheed Adewale and the Oba Oniru in Lagos State.
Others were the Chairman on the occasion, Mr. Fola Adeola, Professor Ishaq Oloyede of JAMB, veteran journalist, Alhaji Femi Abbas, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad (Ansaru Deen Missioner), Senator Babafemi Ojudu (represented Vice President Prof Osinbajo), former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Akinbule (represented Asiwaju Bola Tinubu), Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), and the doyen of MUSWEN, Professor Dawud Noibi.
Others like the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engineer (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele and retired ex-Naval Chief, Jubrila Ayinla participated online (Zoom), while Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Osun State counterpart, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola sent representatives.
At the august gathering, all the discussants unanimously admitted that at a book launch in Lagos Wednesday unanimously admitted that, religion is meant to unify humanity with love, affection and cordial relationship, emphasising that it is never meant to cause disaffection and mutual suspicion in the society.
In his message read on his behalf by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo expressed the delight over the occasion attended by crème la crème in the country to chart a course for a united nation, stressing the importance of unity, harmony and peaceful co-existence.
Osinbajo, therefore, congratulated the organisation on its efforts at strengthening and cementing further, the unity of the people of the country, saying the advantages of being together cannot be over emphasised.
Setting the ball of discussion rolling, Sultan Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar of Sokoto took a critical look at the secessionists’ agitation and described them as people who are ignorant of the workings of religion as a unifying agent, asserting that all religions preach cordial relationship, peace and peaceful co-existence in the society.
The sultan therefore expressed the need for the people to get adequately informed to know that Islam lays much emphasis on unity of humanity and being one’s brother’s keeper, asserting that, anybody who goes about hurting others in the name of religion is not well informed about what he is professing and thus cannot take good decision.
Another first class monarch, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in his remarks called for harmonious living relationship among all tribes in the country irrespective of their religious background, ethnic affiliation or tribal base, informing that, in Yorubaland, religious conflict rarely rear its ugly head because of the understanding that religion is a great unifying agent.
He made it abundantly clear that, hardly could you see any family where adherents of Islam and Christianity are not living together harmoniously under the same roof, supporting the Sultan’s submission that, religious crises are borne out of ignorance of some elements who are not well informed about the role of religion as a unifying agent for humanity in the society.
The guest lecturer at the event, Chief Imam/Missioner of Anaru Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahaman Ahmad asserted that Islam did not come to Yorubaland with a begging bowl saying, it came with courage, knowledge, education and commerce and ability to say the truth to royalty.
Islam, according to him, came with irreversible contributions to the South-West region in the areas of commerce, economic empowerment, educational development, welfare packages, justice and peace, adding that, it came to embolden the people at the time their lives were insecure and thereby earned respect through faith and spiritual prowess.
The highly revered cleric stated further that, the early Muslims of the South-West region left bold foot marks on the rock of time, admonishing that the present crop of the modern ulamas should endeavour to activate by bringing back the lost glory of the religion for the benefit of humanity.
Ahmad therefore challenged the present modern ulamas to go all out to unite all the warring factions in the region reminding them that, Islam lays high premium on unity and togetherness through reconciliation and mediation.
He said the time for agonising has gone and it is time to organise, commending the MUSWEN for the bold step taken to produce the book that put things in proper perspective unlike those non-Muslim writers who write Muslims’ stories for them in the perspective they wanted to portray Islam.
While admonishing the Muslims to be interested in politics without being partisan, the vocal Islamic scholar said, that would allow for influencing economic empowerment, robust literary advancement that would give education a pride of place in line with what Islam teaches.
A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his message also called for unity among Nigerians in the face of insecurity, saying, Nigerians should support the Federal government’s efforts at quelling insurgents and banditry.
Represented by a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule, Tinubu urged Nigerians to be wary of actions capable of plundering the country into ethno-religious crisis.
He acknowledged and appreciated the role of MUSWEN in promoting peace and harmonious relationship amongst the Muslim Ummah in South West Nigeria just as he further encouraged the umbrella body to continue to use the platform to promote peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness in the face of the insecurity being experienced in the country presently.
Osun State Governor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola in his message to the MUSWEN congratulated the organization on its ability to fulfil its key objectives of being a uniting force for all Muslim communities and smaller Islamic organizations in the South-West since its establishment 13 years ago.
According to him, MUSWEN has done impressively well in the onerous task of catering for, preserving, protecting, promoting and advancing the interests of of Islam and Muslims throughout the length and breadth the region, saying, “more than anything else, by this exemplary scholarlywork, the authors have done us a world of good by focussing, simplifying and unravelling the complexities and misconceptions often associated with understanding the place of Islam in Yorubaland.”
In conclusion, Oyetola said, “On my part, like I always say, I am conscious of my position as the only Muslim Governor in the entire Southern Nigeria. I know Allah has a purpose for making it so at this material time in the history of our country. I shall always strive to make Muslims and humanity proud of my stewardship. As a leader, I am conscious of my responsibilities and will continue to discharge them honourably and responsibly with the fear of Allah.”
Chairman on the occasion, Tajudeen Fola Adeola, in his welcome address earlier has said that one of the factors of a book is to educate inform and correct misinformation as well as engaging minds and entertaining.
He noted that conscious efforts have been made by the MUSWEN through the book to reflect how Muslim looks admonishing that, Muslims should stop hiding their potentials and push forward everything to show that they are Muslims.
He was of the conviction that, Nigerian Muslims can better understand themselves when the negative impression and misconception about them are removed.
