Nigerian leaders have been urged to help restore sanity in the society by putting a stop to the menace of “kickback” in public and private organisations.
A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Imran Abdul Majeed Eleha, made the demand on Sunday in Lagos State.
Eleha the Imam of Daaru Naim, spoke when he fielded questions after a lecture, titled: “Truthfulness and Integrity in Corrupt Societies: Islamic Solutions.”
The lecture was held at the Lagos District of The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, monthly joint Usrah (family lecture sitting).
Eleha affirmed that the challenge of kickback in documents and contracts processing in public places could be substantially resolved by the leaders and law enforcement agencies.
He empathised with the givers of kickback as he disclosed that both the persons offering and receiving commit sins.
He hinted that the person who gives on account of reaching a crossroad or at the point of being denied his right would receive a waiver from Allah.
He lamented that kickback is one of the critical dimensions of corruption in Nigerian society, restating that only the leaders and those who enforce law can tame those who perpetrate and promote the act.
Speaking further on the topic of the lecture, Sheikh Eleha indicated that corruption is evident in people in various forms.
According to him, the faces of corruption include: making and relying on voodoo – for faith based related issues; hesitation to show gratitude; mischiefs to impede the good work of Allah; persistent superiority feeling about one’s knowledge; intentional homicide and act of hooliganism.
He bemoaned that some of the corruption faces thrive in Nigerian society.
He asserted that where corruption reigns, loss of lives to criminality becomes rampant, noting that this is a serious sin in Shari’a.
Besides, the cleric added that corruption breeds disruption, such as armed robbery, insecurity rituals in the society and promotes reduction in measurement of stocks, by traders.
Sheikh Eleha, during the well attended lecture, warned that corruption is distasteful to Allah, hence, it is followed by large scale of hunger, anger, anxiety in the society.
He also stressed that Allah wrecks severe punishments on people due to corruption through destructive rainfall, lack of balance and persistent disruption to the planning of the society.
On solutions, he called for training on religious knowledge, reiterating that the degree of societal challenge depends on the level of corruption in it.
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He advocated: “Train people on how to uphold trust and promote trust in the society.”
Similarly, Eleha urged Nigerians not to entrust leadership on people without capacity and competence to deliver.
He said: “Don’t engage lazy people with leadership positions, rather, on qualified and trusted people; don’t entrust leadership to those who are bent on being engaged with the responsibility.”
Still, the Islamic scholar advised that when people are saddled with the leadership positions, this should come with investment on their basic needs and improving on capacity to deliver.
The Eagle Online reports that The Companion Lagos District monthly joint Usrah holds on the first Sunday of every Gregorian calendar.
The District is divided into 10 zones: Alimoso: Agege/Ogba; Akute/Olambe; Oko Oba; Ketu/Ojota; Mushin, Surulere; Light House, Ikorodu; and Somolu-Bariga.
The session was attended by the National, District officers and members of the organisation.
Similarly, members of The Criterion (an association of Muslim women in business and the professions, university undergraduates, young graduates and the general public attended the lecture.
