Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University (APU), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji says Islam is a major stakeholder of peace and security, adding that no Islamic activity can be carried out except in peaceful conditions.
Adedimeji who noted that the propagation and maintenance of peace is part of the Islamic belief charged the Muslim Ummah to rise to the task of promoting peace and security in Nigeria, as a way of contributing their quota to the development of the country.
He gave the charge at the 9th National Conference of Badrud-Dinil-Islami As-Salat Circle of Nigeria held at Iqra College, Ilorin on Saturday, December 25, 2021.
Muslim News findings revealed that there have been mounting concerns on security in Nigeria as many parts of the country are faced with various security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, arson, murder, among others.
“Let me begin by appreciating the organisers of this programme for the thoughtfulness underpinning this conference and its theme. There is nothing certainly more important than peace and security and putting them on the front burner is just doing the needful,” the VC who made a presentation on ‘Peace and Security in Nigeria: The Roles of Muslims’ said.
According to him, Peace is not an abstraction that stands on nothing. For there to be peace, five issues must be borne in mind: truth, justice, love, fairness, and forgiveness. Peace and security are like Siamese twins or the two sides of a coin. Where there is peace, there is usually security.
Adedimeji who is also a former Director of the Center for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin, stated that the core responsibility of safeguarding lives and property of the citizens rests with the government because it controls the formal instruments of maintaining law and order.
He however added that the government alone cannot handle the complex issue of security, noting the people, especially the Muslim Ummah also have their roles to play.
“As Muslims are the best community raised for mankind and the problem of security are apparently beyond what the government alone can handle, there are important roles to play. The Muslim Ummah need to rise to the task of promoting peace and security in Nigeria while contributing their quota to the development of the country. The propagation of peace and its maintenance is part of the Islamic belief. Peace in Islam is required for the sake of a great purpose because no Islamic activity can be carried out except in peaceful conditions.”
Identifying some of the roles the Muslim ummah can play, the Professor of Applied Linguistics encouraged Muslims to instill the Islamic values of peace in their children from home to complement the efforts of the school.
He added: “Muslim leaders should approach politicians and teach them the importance of good governance and encourage them to avoid discrimination and marginalisation of the people while dealing with developmental projects and religious matters in the country.
“The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Badrud-Dinil-Islami As-Salat Circle of Nigeria should redouble their efforts as facilitators of dialogue.
“Muslim groups should urge Muslim politicians to sponsor bills on peaceful coexistence such as the establishment of Ministry of Peace and Religious Affairs”, he added.
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