•Ibikunle Amosun
Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday, expressed worry that activities of some presumed Islamic fundamentalists across the World and in Nigeria are painting Islam in a bad light.
Amosun also stated that their “needless and nefarious activities” have given poor representation of the crucial roles and relevance of Islam and Muslims in the world, reports Sunday Trust.
According to him, religion is supposed to bring about peaceful coexistence and not hatred and animosity.
He stated that unlike what they portray, Islam and Muslims play significant roles in shaping, enriching and contributing to the growth of the global society.
Amosun spoke at the 11th Triennial Conference and Merit Award of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, held yesterday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Amosun stressed that the conference theme, “Islam And Muslims: Responsibilities and Relevance In A Pluralistic World” was apt following the world’s diversity of thoughts, culture and beliefs.
He insisted that Muslims must actively participate in interfaith discussion, community service, bridging cultural divides, and advancing societal well-being in order to demonstrate Islam core values.
Amosun said, “In a world of pluralism, characterised by diversity of thoughts, culture and belief, Islam and Muslims must play significant rules, in shaping, enriching and contributing to the growth of the global society. Islam through its continence , faith prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding, tolerance and compassion, in interactions with fellow Muslims and people of other faith.
“Today, however, hatred and its affliction prevailed among humanity, religion that was supposed to bring peaceful coexistence has now become a source of hatred and animosity.
“However, despite this important roles, the activities of some presumed Islamic fundamentalist group have put Islam and Muslim on trial from ISIS in Syria, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and to Boko Haram and most recently Lakurawa in Nigeria. Their nefarious activities have given a poor representation of the crucial roles and relevance of Islam and Muslim in the world.
“In the same thing, the various killings and maiming in the name of land border crisis for example, the Ifon and Ilobu land dispute in Osun State, and the recent killing in Plateau states were needless. If we respect the sanctity of humanity in us, no tribe should be seen as superior to another, no ethnic group should be regarded as inferior in no ramification.
“We should use pluralism in tribal and ethnic affliction to appreciate our identity as individual, not to oppress ourselves”.
He however, charged Muslims, to collectively double up their efforts in changing the negative narrative projected in the minds of the public.
Delivering his address, the National Missioner and Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahaman Ahmad, urged Nigerians especially those in public offices to be transparent and accountable, adding that at the end, everyone would give an account on how they used their lives.
The Baba Adeen of Owu Kingdom, Dr Ismail Akindele, while emphasising that there is no compulsion in religion, insisted that no one, regardless of their faith is allowed to harm another and urged all Muslims faithful to uphold the principles of good Islam practice.
