Political Leaders Must Desist From Weaponising Religion, Says IWF
By Abimbola Abdullahi
For religion to be an instrument of peace and progress in Nigeria, political leaders must desist from weaponising religion to achieve their selfish, narrow and devilish ends, the Islamic Welfare Foundation (IWF) has said.
The IWF, in a communique after its 11th Conference on Islam in Nigeria (COIN) themed ‘Religion and Politics in Nigeria’ held in collaboration with Ekiti State University (EKSU), said religious leaders must also infest politics with virtues by speaking truth to power but with wisdom as enjoined by the Qur’an.
The communique jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Hassan Kalejaiye and National Secretary, Abdulkarim Oloyede, said there is a high proclivity among Nigerian politicians to weaponise religion to gain power unlawfully thereby subverting the will of the people and enthroning illegitimate government which in turn leads to bad governance.
The group however noted that: “Religion is a two-edged sword in politics; it can build as much as it can destroy. Allah’s purpose for Islam (religion) is to serve as a mechanism for guiding mankind towards peace and progress in this world and hereafter. To abandon or distort religion will, therefore, lead to lack of peace and progress in any community or nation.”
The group said impunity, reinforced by immunity, is a major bane of progress in Nigeria.
“But every religion preaches that there is neither impunity nor immunity before the Almighty. Religious leaders should use their good offices to vigorously campaign against impunity and irresponsible use of immunity in the country.
“Corruption has widened and deepened in Nigeria in recent time and has indeed become an existential problem. All hands must be on deck to eradicate corruption in the country lest it will eradicate the country from the surface of the earth.
“The three arms of government need to up their game in fighting corruption while religious leaders should neither facilitate nor condone corrupt practices and individuals in any guise,” it stated.
Noting that religious leaders are under divine obligation to speak the truth always, IWF said they must therefore speak the truth to both the leaders and the led.
“Hobnobbing with men of means and power has compromised the ability of religious leaders to speak truth to power without fear or favour. Religious leaders are enjoined to always speak the truth to both the leaders and the led so that they can fulfill their mandate as the moral conscience of the society,” it stated.
It expressed concerns that corruption has widened and deepened in Nigeria in recent time and has indeed become an existential problem.
The group therefore urged that all hands must be on deck to eradicate corruption in the country lest it will eradicate the country from the surface of the earth.
“The three arms of government need to up their game in fighting corruption while religious leaders should neither facilitate nor condone corrupt practices and individuals in any guise,” it stated.
IWF however urged that Nigeria should be be described as ‘multi-religious state’ rather than a “secular state”.
“Nigeria is often wrongly labeled as a secular country to connote the notion that she is a country that has nothing to do with any religion when, in fact she has something to do with several religions and, therefore, should be appropriately labeled as a ‘multi-religious state’”it stated.
