Islamic scholar tasks Nigerians on love, peaceful polls

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Ahead of the February general elections, Chairman Northern States Council of Ansar -Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf has urged Nigerian Muslims to imbibe the teaching of Islam by practicing love to their neighbours to ensure peace and tranquility in the during and after the polls.

Addressing the 6th Merit Award Ceremony of the Ansar -Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Kaduna branch, Alhaji Ibrahim, who is also national commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, tasked parents to guide and caution their wards to avoid being used as agents of violence by politicians.

He said, “My advice to Muslim Ummah ahead of the 2015 general elections is to embrace the teachings of Islam, to love your neighbours as you love yourself. When there is love, there will be peace and tranquility.

“We all know that election period is around the corner, and Muslims should endeavour to educate their wards not to be used for election violence. They should obey the teachings of Islam and respect the rules of law,” he said.

Chairman Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Kaduna branch, Alhaji Liadi Olapade urged the Muslim ummahs to let the teachings of Islam be their watchwords as the general elections approaches. He said the Merit Award is held every five years to reward deserving Muslims.

Chairman Merit Award Organising Committee, Ogbeni Biola Oyebanji said the event was designed to recognise and reward people who have contributed immensely to the course of Allah and towards upliftment of Islam generally and to Ansar-Ud-Deen Society.

The Guest Speaker, Dr Yakub Yusuf of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, whose presentation was titled ‘Is there any reward for good other than good’, tasked leaders to be just to their followers and urged Muslim to do good at all times for the world to eschew evil.