Credible Election Duty For Us All – OSMC

By Sikiru Obarayese

Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC) has charged electoral umpire, security operatives, the media and the electorate to play their roles in a manner that will ensure credible election in Osun on September 22 elecetion.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Colloquium held as part of activities herathy the new Hijra year 1440AH. The communique was signed by the President and Secretary, Alh. Mustafa Olawuyi, Alh. Abdul-Ganiy Akeredolu at the OSMC Secretariat in Osogbo recently.

At the Colloquium, themed: Election Malpractices: Causes, Effects and Islamic Solutions, the Muslims leaders concluded that Muslims should partake fully in the forthcoming September 22nd gubernatorial election in the state by voting for candidates of their choice.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the umpire in the election was charged to ensure that credible election is conducted during the poll.

Parents and guardians were also charged to guide their children from being used as political thugs.

The Muslims delegates commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Government for ensuring peaceful atmosphere in the state for the past seven and half years of his administration.

According to the communique, the Muslims community called for credible election, saying the results of the election should not be manipulated at any level so as to prevent post-election crises.

The community also said security personnel, Media and INEC should take proactive measure to curb vote buying and fraudulent activities during the election period.

OSMC called on INEC to create platform for  vulnerables including the physically challenged, the aged, for them to be given due consideration at polling centres.

The delegates also urged every candidate to accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Meanwhile, the weeklong activities marking Hijra 1440 Islamic calendar came to the climax at the city Stadium, Osogbo last Tuesday where the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola tasked muslims to be good citizens.

In his address, Aregbesola said muslims celebrate all Islamic festivals to remind themselves of being muslims and to keep to the tenents of Islam.

Islam, according to the governor, demands that all muslims must be good to their neighbours.

In his lecture on Good Governance, Procedure and Processes: Islamic perspective, Dr. Kamorudeen Bolarinwa of the Nigerian French Village, Badagry, stated that society has embraced democracy as the best form of government but admonished leaders to endeavour to implement manifestoes upon which they are elected.

To him, good governance must ensure protection of life and property, provision of social amenities to include road, food, affordable housing, education and health services.

Bolarinwa emphasized that Islamically, leadership is a trust (amana) which must be adhere to

“A leader should be conscious of his duty and the associated responsibility especially the fact that he is answerable not only to the people he is serving but also the creator of both” he stressed.