In order to resolve the challenge of insecurity, Nigerians have been urged to avoid extravagant lifestyles, while paying keen attention to economic empowerment of individuals, good parenting and efficient technology.
The call was made by Dr. Mas’ud Abimbola Alabi at the 13th Ramadan Lecture of The Companion, Alimoso Usrah branch, Lagos State.
Speaking at the lecture presided over by the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraju Ishola Adekunbi with the topic: “Insecurity: Islamic Panacea”, Dr Alabi, who is a lecturer in General Studies department, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, highlighted that “economic insecurity” occurs when people are idle, or not productively engaged; Such he related are used as willing tools to unleash different forms of crimes in the society.
He admonished Nigerians: “Avoid flamboyant lifestyle; support and empower people – to avoid being intimidated to take to crimes; empowerment reduces poverty and hunger which lures people into crimes”.
Speaking further on Islamic solutions to insecurity, the academic who established that Allah uses security and insecurity to reward mankind for his submission or misconduct called on Muslims to entrench their faith and fear in Allah.
Dr Alabi stressed that Muslims must be fair and just to their children, partners, subordinates, followers, colleagues, neighbours and leaders.
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To resolve the challenge of insecurity, the lecturer urged Muslims to consider the life of fellow human beings as sacred, calling on parents to adequately train their children, as well as pray for them constantly.
According to the lecturer, physical insecurity is evident in the activities of Boko Haram and terrorist groups, declaring that the killing spree by the groups is a deliberate plot to run Islam down. He asserted that the terrorists whose attacks have no restriction to religious faith have succeeded in turning Muslims against themselves.
Other types of insecurity, Dr Alabi listed, include: spiritual insecurity – misconception and self-defeat by many that they can’t attain success in life; psychological insecurity – desperation to attain success, which prompts inter religion faith crossing; social insecurity – challenge of inferiority complex, which prompts escape from the Islamic fundamentals.
Another critical form, Dr Alabi indicated, is moral insecurity, stressing that the young ones are the major victim due to exposure and access to social media.
He therefore called on parents to train their children, create time for them, observe them, listen to them and ask them questions.
Another academic, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr Kola Lawal Abbas, while speaking on the contemporary panacea of insecurity, called for maximum utilisation of security facilities put in place, at homes and business premises.
While noting that challenges of insecurity escalate due to mistrust between the government and the governed, Dr Lawal advocated for exploration of self security measures, driven by technology, calling on parents to be vigilant and observe children’s conduct while in school.
Similarly, he urged parents to investigate, admonish their children and put in all needed efforts to ensure that the young ones don’t join bad groups.
In his goodwill message, the Lagos District Amir of The Companion, Alhaji Olayiwola Baruwa called on participants to join the organization, as it has a lot to offer.
According to him, the organization stands on four cardinal points, including: Spiritual development, education and scholarship promotion, public advocacy and media engagement, economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Coordinator of Alimoso zone, Tpl. Kamor Ogunfowora disclosed that Nigeria has witnessed and is still witnessing unprecedented levels of insecurity across various parts of the federation in the last few years.
The insecurity, he recounted has also evolved from Boko Haram with its religious colouration to farmer – herder clashes, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, mindless killing of innocent people, separatist movements calling for break-up of Nigeria, insurgency, disruption of economic activities, and sometimes outright criminality.
Ogunfowora who is a Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, disclosed that different splinter groups have emerged to create more insecurity and loss of lives and properties for different reasons in various shades.
He lamented that the menace has assumed international dimension with heavy involvement of non-Nigerians, adding that the insecurity is spreading almost on a daily basis and is further compounded by internal corruption and saboteurs within government security agencies.
Ogunfowora stated: “As at date the insecurity has outlived two civilian regimes of President Goodluck Jonathan and late President Muhammadu Buhari and is still with us in the regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Without doubt, efforts of each regime to quell insecurity have not yielded desired results in spite of trillions of naira spent every year to the extent that defense has consistently occupied the first position in budgetary allocation over the years. The most recent development aimed at finding a lasting solution is the military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States”.
“Muslims in Nigeria constitute more than 50% of the population. Worse still, the Muslim dominated states are mostly affected by the nationwide insecurity.
“Furthermore, it has created more poverty among Muslims as people are displaced and unable to undertake any meaningful economic activities, especially farming. As Muslims, whose religion is anchored on PEACE, we owe it a duty to join the government at various levels to proffer solutions to this lingering problem”, the zonal Coordinator said.
He pointed out that this informed the choice of this year’s lecture topic, titled: “Insecurity: Islamic and Contemporary Panacea”.
The event was attended by members of Alimoso Usrah zone, students and members of the public.
The Eagleonline reports that Alimoso Usrah zone of The Companion Lagos District holds its Ramadan public lecture on the second Sunday of Ramadan.
