A renowned Islamic scholar and Chief Imam of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, has called on political leaders to live exemplary lives and make personal sacrifices for the good of society, in line with the lessons of Eid-el-Adha.
The cleric made the call after the Eid prayers held at the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Centre praying ground in the Kuje District of Abuja during this year’s Sallah celebration.
Imam Adeyemi also urged citizens to hold leaders accountable and reject divisive politics based on ethnicity and religion.
According to him, the spiritual lessons of Eid-el-Adha should shape leadership and governance in the country.
“We are gathered in a season where our spiritual realities are colliding directly with our civic responsibilities. We are fresh off the sacred days of Eid-el-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, and everywhere political activities are gathering momentum,” he said.
The cleric stressed that faith must influence character and public conduct, noting that society would decay if religious values were disconnected from civic responsibilities.
“Faith is the moral anchor of any society. If our faith does not inform our character, then our civic spaces will fall into decay,” he added.
Speaking on leadership, Imam Adeyemi said true leadership was not about privileges or the protection of office, but about carrying the burden of the people.
“The lesson of Prophet Ibrahim teaches us that leadership requires personal sacrifice for the public good. If a politician is not willing to sacrifice greed, comfort, and personal ambition for the progress of Nigeria, such a person has no business asking for our votes,” he stated.
He further called on Nigerians to demand accountability from leaders rather than accepting temporary political patronage.
“We must demand accountability, not handouts. Citizens should stop selling the future of their children for temporary political gains. If a candidate cannot show integrity and a history of keeping promises, such a person should not be trusted with greater responsibilities,” he said.
Imam Adeyemi also cautioned politicians against exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments to gain support.
“They will try to divide us by tribe or religion, but we must ask ourselves: does a bad road care about religion? Does inflation choose its victims by ethnicity?” he queried.
He urged Nigerians to remain united and prioritize competence, integrity, and service in choosing leaders.
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