Imams trained on anti corruption advocacy

Anti-Corruption

The Just Foundation run by Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society on Thursday commenced the training of Imams in Kaduna on the need to engage in anti corruption advocacy and encourage their followers to imbibe accountability and transparency in their dealings.

The Imams were drawn from different Islamic organisations in Kaduna including Islamic Foundation of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Muslim Council of Nigeria, Kadpoly Ummah, NDA mosque, NASFAT and Ansarudeen.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Imam Fuad Adeyemi said in an interview in Kaduna that the training was to push the war against corruption to places of worship.

According to him, this will allow generality of the people to appreciate the effect and dangers of corruption on their collective existence and future.

“Muslim clerics have been enrolled and trained into the foundation’s anti corruption project so as to empower, strengthen and expose them based on whom they are.

“It is not like they will be taught something new but we just want to ensure they use their knowledge to achieve the fight on corruption.”

Adeyemi called on Muslim leaders to use their God given skills and tools including the Qur’an and Hadith “to speak authoritatively about corruption, so that the people will comprehend better the ills of the menace.”

Also, Imam Muhammad Ashafa, the Co-Director, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, noted that since the Imams superintend over followers of between a hundred and a thousand people, it is important for them to give priority to the issue of corruption in their sermons.

“The religious leaders who have large gatherings especially on Fridays need to be reawakened from their silence on issues regarding corruption.

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“They do not get involved on the issue mainly because most of them think nothing can be done about the menace”, he observed.

Ashafa also noted with concern, the level of social injustice in the country, saying that it is what is destroying the nation.

“Nigeria is being destroyed by injustice. The concept of social justice between the poor and the rich is very disturbing as it is only the poor that is prosecuted for crimes while the rich are celebrated and allowed to go free.

“Our goal at this training is to encourage the scholars to close the gap of injustice between the poor and the rich due to corruption through their sermons.

“The ordinary man has to understand government efforts in the fight against corruption by championing the cause and not supporting the rich corrupt political officers,” Ashafa stressed.

He stated further that the Islamic scholars must come up with a template meant to add value to lives as well as complement government’s efforts in the fight against corruption.

“They should also preach peace to the people especially as elections is drawing closer; the drums of peace needs to be beaten by shunning those calling for wars and violence,” the Imam added.

The foundation, supported by MacArthur Foundation, also run similar programme in Kogi, Niger, Kebbi, Lagos and Osun States, as well as the FCT.

AShafa is expected to present a lecture on the role of Religious Leaders in Fighting Corruption while Dr Tajudeen Adigun, Chief Imam of Wuse Central Juma’at Mosque, Abuja will deliver a lecture titled `Corruption: Causes and Effects.’

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