By Biodun Adebayo, Okitipupa, Ondo State:
The Chief Imam of Okitipupa Division who is also the Chairman, League of Imams & Alfas in Okitipupa-Igbokoda-Irele-Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments of Ondo State, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akinyemi Bagudu has urged Nigerians, especially Muslim faithfuls, to imbibe the culture of self-restraint.
This was the thrust of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr ‘’End of Ramadan Fasting Feast’’ message of the Chief Imam of Okitipupa Division during a chat with our correspondent.
The Chief Imam posited that fear of God, which is otherwise known as self-restraint, is the major teaching and reason why almighty Allah decreed fasting in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 : 183 when He commanded thus:
‘’O you who believe, fasting is ordained upon you as ordained upon those before you, so that you may have self-restraint’’.
The Cleric maintained that when people fear Allah and imbibe the culture of self-restraint they will be upright, self-disciplined, honest, trustworthy, cautious, well-behaved, hardworking, patriotic and productive.
He stated that if leaders in Nigeria at all levels, can imbibe the culture of self-restraint, as taught by the holy month of Ramadan, they will not misbehave, they will not steal public funds, nor get involved in scandalous, senseless and annihilating corruption that has today plunged many families and individuals in the Country to untold hardships, sufferings, hunger, insecurity, as well as infrastructural deficit like good roads, electricity, clean drainages and portable water among others.
Chief Imam Bagudu in his submission, stated that the absence of fear of God and self-restraint in our political leaders is the main reason why many state governments in Nigeria are still owing their workers over six months salaries or more. He appealed to the Governors of the affected States to find lasting solution to this and quickly pay the owed salaries.
The Chief Imam therefore, called on Nigerians to fear God, imbibe the culture of self-restraint and support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-Corruption war so that the Country can move forward.
‘’Fear of God and imbibing the culture of self-restraint in our everyday life is the only alternative to move out of our socio-economic predicaments. Prayer alone is not enough, but acting right at all times’’, the Chief Imam concluded.
