Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended by the founder and Executive Director, Muslim Rights Concern, (MURIC), Professor Lakin Ishaq Akintola, for the steps he has taken since the beginning of his administration and also urged him to continue the administration by serving the people who elected him.
The Professor of Islamic Studies (Eschatology) from Lagos State University, made this commendation during his retirement celebration, awards and book launch event which was held in LTV8 Combo Hall, in Lagos state.
He said President Tinubu’s government has started on a good cause as he asked the administration to be fair, equitable and humane to the plight of the people.
“The Tinubu’s government is the type of government that we want. It has started well and my advice generally is for him to continue treating the fears of the people. To always consider the agonies and pains of minorities, majorities, religious and ethnic groups that have certain grievances,” he stated.
Professor Akintola said President Tinubu should consistently pursue policies that would make life easy for the people.
Speaking on his retirement and launch of his autobiography, ‘My Jihad’, Professor Akintola thanked Almighty Allah who brought him to the stage of retiring from active service in Lagos State University where he lectured for 39 years.
Bravery
Responding to what prompted his bravery in writing and actions, he said it was inspiration from Allah, explaining that most of his responses to issues were spontaneous.
“Sometimes I may be sleeping or I’m drifting to sleep and something will tell me there is something happening in some parts of the country, you have not written anything on it, take action. If I don’t go to my table and start work immediately, no matter how hard I try to sleep, I wouldn’t get the sleep until I get the inspiration and take action.
I just write and write. I get an outline of whatever issue I am about to discuss and build up on it. And sometimes when I decide to read back to see what I have written, to check for possible errors, I am grateful to Allah.”
Professor Akintola said his dressing represents the symbol of struggle for the liberation of Muslims just like Yesir Arafat, a Palestinian leader who did all he could to ensure the freedom of Muslims.
He said the struggle for the liberation of Muslims continue with him, even after retirement “until every single Muslim in Nigeria is free to practise his religion as he or she desires.”
The reviewer of the book, Professor Mahfuz Adedimeji, while commenting on the book, said it is an excellent book which he would recommend to every Muslim.
He mentioned the lessons in the book to include contentment, courage, self-discipline, simplicity, commitment, humility, resistance to injustice through the power of his tongue and pen, as he advised the upcoming generation to get a hold of the book to digest some of the life experiences of the author.
Use of Religion
However, the key note speaker at the event, former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, decried the recent use of region and religion as a negotiating platform by leaders to acquire power and privileges.
El-Rufai said religion should be taken back to the private sector, where it belongs and to be also made to bridge divides, project equal opportunities to all Nigerians, rather than being overpoliticised as a tool for discrimination and promoting injustice.
“Religion should help us to be a better person. There is presence of religion but it is also absent in terms of promoting good behaviour, upholding law and order, concern for others, dedication to equitable good and leadership.”
