A media guru and public relations expert, Alh Saadudeen Salahudeen has stressed the need for Muslims in leadership positions to let the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the deeds of Prophet Muhammad reflect in the discharge of their duties.
Salahudeen, a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR) said Qur’anic injunctions on exemplary leadership qualities are very clear, adding that Prophet Muhammad and the rightly guided caliphs offered and exhibited the best leadership traits worthy of emulation by Muslims in leadership positions.
Delivering a lecture titled,” Role of Muslims in Governance, Challenges and Panacea”, at the 2023 Annual Ramadan Lecture of the OASIS Muslim Care Foundation ; a Muslim Society in the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Salahudeen said Muslims, by the provision of the Holy Qur’ an and teachings of Prophet Muhammad are the best among mankind prepared and well orientated for leadership and governance with sense of selfless service, justice, fairness and equity.
Salahudeen who is also the special adviser on Strategy to Kwara State governor, said given the above, Muslims,”must therefore mass participate in governance and political leadership.”
He added:” Muslims in leadership position must imbibe the examples of Prophet Muhammad , Saidina Abubakar and such worthy role models like the late Sardauna of Sokoto , Tafawa Balewa , Prince Bola Ajibola and my current principal, role model and leader , Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq who has made all Kwarans proud with his exemplary and inspiring leadership qualities in the past four years accounting for his mass appreciation in his landslide’s victory for second term .
“Muslims in governance and leadership position in particular should be guided only by the teachings of Qur’an and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad in order to have a place of pride not only in history but also in the life here after
“Oath of office and allegiance taken at swearing of Muslims in governance should be taken sacrosanct by all Muslims for they will account for their actions and deeds in leadership before Allah , the Almighty .
“They should be transparent, honest and accountable to the electorate and the general public in whose trust they hold their offices. They should guard jealously the trust reposed in them by those who elected them .
“They should internalize various constitutional provisions and code of public conduct meant to guide them in the affairs of the society .
EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and several such public institutions and legal framework and structures put in place must be watch words of Muslims in leadership position and governance to avoid humiliation , disgrace and prosecution capable of leading them to jail after their tenure .”
Also speaking on the topic, Dr Nafiu Jawari of AlHikmah University, Ilorin, reminded political leaders that they can become a special being in the face of their creator if they rule with the fear of God and make life comfortable for the people.
In his contribution, Justice AbdulRaheem Sayi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin, harped on the need for the society to make deliberate efforts at grooming future leaders, noting that this is the only way the country can have upright and trustworthy leaders.
The chairman of the event, Prof Abubakar Imam Aliagan, urged Muslims to take interest in the electoral process so as to have inputs in the election of leaders in all tiers of government.
Earlier, the chairman of OASIS Muslim Care Foundation, Dr Kamaldeen Alasinrin said the foundation, established two decades ago is totally concerned with the plights of sick Muslims in the hospital.
He said the foundation had recently organised free medical services and offered assistance to those in needs.
Dignitaries at the event included a university don, Dr Mohammed Ghali Alaaya, the special assistant on Religion (Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro, a state lawmaker, Barr. AGF Salahudeen and Muhammad Yusuf, an associate Professor at AlHikmah University, Ilorin.
Others include the regional editor of LEADERSHIP newspapers, Alh Abdullahi Olesin, Dr Yinus Baraje and Ustaz AbdulWahab Olesin of Darul- Iman Wal- falahi, Lawanson, Lagos State.
