The National Overseer and Chief Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmad has tasked whoever emerged winner at the Saturday governorship and house of Assembly elections in Lagos to ensure a reunited state, stating emphatically that it has been sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines.
The Muslim Cleric while speaking on Friday at a special prayer programme organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community towards the success of Saturday’s elections at assembly Mosque said that for Lagos to move on at a fast pace of development, the governor must embrace all after the election.
The special prayer session was held to intercede on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa as well as other members of the House who are contesting.
Sheikh Ahmad urged everyone who is of voting age especially the muslim community in Lagos to massively come out and exercise their franchise as it behoves true muslims.
“The first assignment for the next governor is to reunite the entire Lagos, to close the gaps and address the challenges electioneering campaigns have thrown up, so that we can live as one community again.
“This is a priority because this election has tend to divide the state very sharply, along religious and ethnic lines. People have grudges, they have grievances , the governor must address all these to move the state forward.
“The next governor must run an inclusive government. After the election, when everybody must have realised his mistakes, the government must embrace all”, he advised.
He also charged the incoming government to address the issue of illegal taxes being collected from the people by non- state actors.
“The government must address the issue of Agberos in Lagos, they are causing a lot of inconveniences. The government must review all their taxes and levies which are creating a lot of problems for the people in Lagos.
He also took a swipe on the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), for their unprofessional conduct, advising them to be more professional in their duties.
“Whatever LASTMA has done pre-election must not just be a show. It must be a commitment, a commitment to be civilised, a commitment to be fair, a commitment to be professional. They must desist from this habit of watching and waiting for people to break traffic rules so that they can make arrest.
“ Traffic management should not be a revenue generating avenue for the government”, the cleric affirmed.
He added that even though Lagos is one of the leading states in Nigeria, nevertheless, much could still be done by the incoming government to increase government’s revenue, but generating revenue must be done in a way that would not subject the people to extra hardship.
While admonishing the people to go out and vote tomorrow, the cleric said it is not just a civic duty, it is a religious responsibility for every muslim to vote.
“In Islam, it is the equivalent of witnessing and Allah asks us to stand up and be staunch in witness for Allah.
“Whoever you vote you are witnessing for that person, and you are going to be accountable for that person on the last day.
“At this point in our nation, nobody must sit on the fence, everyone must stand up and be counted and be part of history.
“ Every muslim, male or female, as long as you of voting age, they must go out tomorrow and cast their vote”, the muslim cleric charged.
Also speaking at the special prayer programme, the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, said the essence of the event was to solidarise with the government and support the government spiritually ahead of Saturday elections.
The Clerk also advised the electorate to eschew violence so that the elections can be peaceful, “because after the elections, there will still be Lagos and some us don’t have any other place we can call home than this Lagos.
“Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community with over five thousand members have to come together to support and pray for the success of the incoming government”, he said.
Abdul Shakur Adeleke Oshoala Lead Imam Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community
Oshoala while given his counsel to electorates ahead of the Saturday polls charged all to vote right, citing the inherent benefits.
“They should look very well and consider those that have been performing, if you refused to do the right thing, what you do will later afflict you.”