Muslim leaders from various parts of Nigeria, representing the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, convened in Kaduna to address pressing issues affecting the nation.
Emphasizing the need for accountability and social welfare, they urged the government to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians amidst rising hunger and insecurity.
Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiytullah, the President of the council, highlighted the detrimental effects of corruption on governance, likening it to a cancer that undermines progress.
He questioned the allocation of trillions of naira to security and power sectors without tangible results, calling for transparency and effectiveness in government spending.
Expressing concern over proposed economic policies, the leaders cautioned against the total removal of subsidies and the commercialization of public agencies without considering the impact on the populace.
President of the council, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiytullah, said: “We should in unison, keep appealing to our governments to take concrete steps to address the issue of corruption, leakages and wasteful spending.
‘’Corruption is like a cancer, which destroys everything noble and undermines the principles of good governance.”
“Here, it is perfectly justified to ask our leaders, why should the ordinary Nigerian be made to bear the brunt of insecurity, with trillions being spent on the security agencies without positive result or accountability?
‘’Why should the ordinary Nigerian suffer difficulties from power failure and its skyrocketing cost, with over $20billion wasted on power without positive results or accountability?
“There is no doubt that we cannot reasonably expect solutions to issues bedeviling our lives until our leaders summon the political will to address the issue of corruption, whenever, wherever and whoever is involved.
“We urge the federal government to re-examine the neo-liberal economic template guiding our policies and perish the thought of plans to totally abolish all subsidies and commercialize strategic public agencies, without any semblance of social safety net to mitigate the attendant, horrendous consequences on the population.
“In these challenging times, it is crucial that we uphold the principles of peace, unity, and understanding. We should preach against resorting to violent protests against the government and strive for dialogue and constructive engagement with governments to address our concerns.
‘’Islam encourages us to seek solutions to problems with our leaders through peaceful means only. Violence only begets more violence, and it is our duty as responsible citizens and followers of Islam to promote harmony and stability.
‘’Together, let us channel our grievances through peaceful avenues, fostering a culture of tolerance and cooperation for the betterment of our society.
“We call on the Ummah to fervently pray during this sacred month of Ramadan and beyond for peace in Nigeria, and divine intervention in tackling acts of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious crises, and other criminal activities.