Address nightmare caused by LASTMA on roads, Cleric tells Sanwo-Olu

IBRAHIM QUADRI

Going by the level of hardship in the polity, an Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Abdur-rahman Ahmad, has called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to caution the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials from creating nightmare on the highways.

The Imam, who is the Chief Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, made the call on Friday during a special Jummah service and prayer on the Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The programme was organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community for Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa, as well as other members of the House who are contesting.

The programme took place at the State House of Assembly Mosque and led by the Chief Missioner.

Sheikh Ahmad declared: “Allah chose Adam as a viceroy to achieve His mission on earth in order to have honesty, fairness, justice and equity. Our primary purpose on earth is to worship Allah.”

The erudite scholar explained the worship of Allah is all-encompassing that crossed every facet of life.

He noted: “Allah has made every one of us as shepherd, be it in the homes, offices, just as wives are shepherds in their husbands’ homes. Responsibility is accountability and each one will be accountable to Allah”.

The Imam, therefore, enjoined Muslims to get engaged in participatory democracy, adding that Muslims should speak out for justice. “As Muslims, you can’t stand aloof, you can’t stand uninterested, and you can’t stand uninvolved. It is through service to humanity that you can have taqwah (piety)”, he said.

He said the recent challenges made the Muslims “to break out from our shells because our very existence was being challenged and we have no choice than to stand up in the defence of our identity. We are only being defensive, we are not aggressive.

“We are not vouching for human beings; any human being can make errors but with the level of our reasoning, based on our limited analysis, all Ulamas met and we have decided to maintain the status quo in Lagos State”.

He added: “We are saying to the government of the day that you must do what is right. No Government must take the people for granted. People are complaining about some policies of government that are causing hardships. LASTMA has become people’s nightmare. Don’t make traffic management a source of revenue. It is wrong. Doesn’t use touts and there are so many illegal taxes”.

“I do not begrudge those who want to protect their religion. It is their right but if you choose to protect your own religion, should I not protect my own religion? After the election, we shall meet; introducing this kind of narrative to elections is an ill-wind. We must learn to tolerate one another.

“We are doing this not because we collect bribe. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has told us do not be a bribe taker and bribe giver. We are Muslims and we don’t hate Christians. We can vote Christians if they do not treat us as outcast,” the Cleric stated.

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