Participants at the just concluded 2024 National Reunion Conference of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) said failure of leadership at all levels in Nigeria has caused the nation a lot of challenges which included civil strife,insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, corruption,economic comatose, political rascality and social disorder.
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The participants maintained that series of security crises been witnessed in the country was due largely to insensitivity on the part of Nigerian leaders,inadequate intelligence gathering on the part of the security agencies all of which constitute a great challenge to good governance and a threat to democracy and economic growth in the country.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the reunion conference held at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife (OAU), Osun State between Friday May 17 and Sunday May 19, 2024.
Participants in the communique signed by Engr. Mohammed Buari,National President,Mr Sefiu Ikudaisi,National Secretary also argued that South West Muslims have continued to be politically marginalised as they are denied access to political offices, appointment to government establishments including university appointments using various weapons of oppression and intimidation.
The resolutions in the communique also read;
“Involvement of Nigerian Muslims especially the Muslim Elite in politics and participation in the electoral process is necessary and should be seen as an act of Worship.
“The Renewed Hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration is supposed to reset Nigeria’s economic advancement and ease the burden of hardship on the citizenry; but thus far,the selfish activities of saboteurs and insensitivity of our leaders made the last one year a tough one for everybody.
“The effects of the removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the Naira on the prices of foodstuffs, goods and services almost paralysed the nation, hence,the need for the nation to think out of the box and come up with a service and production-based economy
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“All elected and appointed leaders should be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizenry and embrace good governance,fairness and justice to all as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria and make the fear of Allah their watchword, in order to forestall uprising in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria should show serious commitment in fighting corruption which has eaten deep into the fabric of the citizenry in the country by being accountable and transparent in the business of the government,while those found culpable should be made to face the wrath of the law.
“Since Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, efforts should be geared towards upholding the letter and spirit of the principle of Federal Character without sacrificing merit in all governmental affairs and appointments.
“All the three tiers of government in Nigeria should ensure that the lives and property of all the citizens of the country are secured. This is important, as it is only when there is national security that development and economic growth can take place.
“The private sector should as a matter of urgency partner with the government for the education of Nigerians especially to address all the Infrastructural deficit in our institutions of learning.
“Employment opportunities should be given to teeming unemployed Nigerian youths who are being used as instruments of violence by some selfish and unpatriotic individuals.
“We condemn in strong terms the terrorist acts in some parts of the country,mob actions, jungle and selective killings of innocent Nigerians, and we advise the Federal Government to avoid the present stereotype of pigeon-holing it as a religious issue. It is more of a political, ethnic and economic issue.
“The Conference recommends the Islamic concept of leadership which is rooted in the institutionalization of principles of integrity, honesty and competency rather than patronages.
“Above all, we advise all Nigerian leaders as well as all Nigerians to live in peace and harmony, learn to tolerate one another, be fair to all and remember that injustice breeds uprising and violent acts”.
The Conference whose theme is”Equal Opportunities for Prosperity in Nigeria Changing Nigeria’s Consumption-Based Economy to a Service and Production-Based Economy” commenced with a special Jumat service at the OAU Central Mosque, IleIfe, Osun State.
This was followed by the Commissioning of the UNIFEMGA National Secretariat as well as Networking Dinner held at the Ifeloju Hall of the University on Friday 17th May, 2024 which was sponsored by Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, UNIFEMGA B.O.T Chairman tagged “UNIFEMGA Investors Forum” with a panel of entrepreneurial discussants and pitching by some young entrepreneurs, with the Vice Chancellor,Prof. A.S. Bamire and other top university functionaries in attendance. Earlier, a courtesy visit was paid on the management of OAU where some salient issues affecting the institution were discussed.
The reunion lecture was delivered by Sen. Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (SAS) , a senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security with Dr Ahmed Tunde Popoola, Group Managing Director/CEO of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, as the Chairman of the occasion.
The Conference also witnessed the presentation of 118 scholarships and grants to OAU undergraduate and postgraduate students at a cost of N11.5 million by the Association as part of its welfare gesture to the students on campus. To date,the Association has disbursed over N60million to 1168 students of the Institution.
The association also had its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where its activities in the past one year were reviewed, and appointed a new set of National Executive Council led by Alhaji Mohammed Buari following the expiration of the tenure of the former National Executive Council. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an Chapter 3 verse 110: “You are the best community created for mankind. You enjoin what is right,forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah” .
