25052018 - BENUE KILLINGS: ETHNIC CLEANSING OR JIHAD? Soyinka, Northern leaders tango

OGUN State Governor
Ibikunle Amosun, Lagos
State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat
Adebule,
Chief
Executive Officer of Bua Group
Alhaji AbdusSamad Rabiu will
lead other dignitaries to the grand
finale of the Lagos Quran
Competition organised by
Muslim Students’ Society of
Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area
Unit, in honour of its pioneer
President and former Secretary-
General of the Nigerian Supreme
Council for Islamic Affairs, late Dr
AbdulLateef Adegbite.
The event, which is the 15the
edition will hold on Sunday at
University of Lagos Main
Auditorium, Akoka, Lagos, by
10am.
At a joint press conference, held
recently at the Ladi Lawal Press
Center, NUJ House, Alausa, Ikeja,
by son of the late Adegbite,
Bashorun Ladi and MSSN Lagos
State Area Unit Amir (President)
Dr Saheed Ashafa, the duo
promised that the competition
will be the largest in Lagos State.
Ashafa said the Chief Executive
Officer of Basmallah Institute for
Teaching Qur’an and Islam in
Ireland, United Kingdom, Ustadh
Muhammad Harun Thanni, will
speak on the theme – Hope for
the hopeless.
Commenting on the state of the
nation, Ashafa lamented the
socio-economic harships in
Nigeria saying: “We can continue
to count, count and count, many
mind-boggling challenges
bedevilling the country. In fact,
some Nigerians have already lost
all hope in Project Nigeria, but we
as a Muslim Students’ body say
No! We believe in the Nigerian
dream, which to us is still
achievable if the government at
all levels and the led return to the
Qur’an, the hope of the Universe.
That is why we have carefully
chosen the theme for this year’s
Lagos Qur’an Competition to be
“Qur’an: The Hope of the
Hopeless”. Our guest speaker, an
erudite scholar, is Ustadh
Muhammad Harun Thani, the
CEO Basmallah Institute for
Teaching Qur’an and Islam,
Ireland, UK.
THE Director, Muslim
Awareness International,
(MAI) Engineer AbdulWaheed
Atoyebi has called on world leaders,
heads of states, rights groups,
international organisations as well
as individuals to lend their voices
against the persecution, oppression
and eviction of Palestinians, adding
that it was a moral duty to speak out
against oppression and violations
of human rights.
Addressing a world press
conference on the issue recently,
MAI stated that the issue was not a
religious issue but a gross human
rights violations. He added that even
some Christians were indifferent on
the development in Israel while
many more support Israel in their
acts of oppression and inhumanity
to man.
“Today, the State of Israel
commits heinous war crimes
against the Palestinian people and
the world looks on. These atrocities
are committed with transparency
and clarity that send a clear
message that “we don’t give a damn
Ramadan 9, 1439 A.H.
Amosun, Adebule to grace MSSN-Lagos Quran competition
...As Ashafa praises Buhari for teaching Quran at Ramadan event
He commended President
Muhammadu Buhari on guesture
to teach top government officials
the Noble Quran at a Tafsir
session he attended at the State
House Mosque in Abuja recently,
urging “other leaders to live by
the Quranic injunctions in
bringing about the Nigeria we all
crave.”
On his part, Bashorun Adegbite
expressed happiness for the
opportunity to remember his late
Patriach, describing the honour
as a continuation of legacies and
core values for which late
Adegbite was known for.
what you think or will do”.
In the last few weeks, we have seen
innocent and unharmed peaceful
protesters used as target practice by
Israeli military forces; amputees
shot in cold blood; women and
children were not spared, while the
old and elderly wonder when the
misery will end.
Atoyebi however, praised some
countries and leaders who have
spoken in condemnation of the acts
as well as those who instead of
supporting Israel and its allies, have
remained silent. While also
maintaining that it is worthy to be
on the right side of history, it is also
necessary to support justice, equity
and fairness and stand against
oppression and human rights
violations.
Civil Rights Groups, NGOs
We commend all civil rights
groups, non-governmental
organizations, and people of
“Dr Adegbite touched the lives
of many people and was a firm
believer in service to humanity
which he spent his whole life
pursuing. He remains today my
hero as he is to many children.
He mentored and influenced
many people, a habit that came
to him naturally. I thank the
Lagos State Area Unit of the
MSSN for this honour bestowed
on our father which our family
supports. I am particularly
excited by this edition’s theme:
“Hope for the Hopeless”, which
clearly expresses the essence of
the life of the late Dr Adegbite.”
From right: Dr. Saheed Ashafa, Amir, Muslim Students Society
of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos; Bashorun Adegbite; and Saheed Adigun,
Secretary, MSSN, Lagos during a press briefing heralding
the 15th biennial Quran Competition in honour of Late Dr Lateef
Adegbite held at NUJ press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
RAMADAN: Group urges support for Igbo Muslims
IGBO Muslims under the
aegis of South Eastern
Muslims of Nigeria (SEMON)
have urged the wealthy among
the Ummah to feed the poor,
support the needy and strive to
ease the pains of the less
privileged during the month of
Ramadan.
The group also congratulated
the leadership of the Ummah, led
by the Sultan of Sokoto and
President General of the Supreme
Council for Islamic Affairs
(NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu
Sa’adu Abubakar II, for guidance
which has led to the unity of the
Muslims in the country especially
in the commencement of
Ramadan fasting.
A statement signed by the
chairman of the organization,
Muhammad Obiahu Ajah Jr. and
Secretary, Abdurrahman
Nwabueze Urama, applauded
the spirit of brotherhood
exhibited by Muslims during
Ramadan. The group appealed
for the continuation of the
religiosity even after Ramadan
so that the privileged Muslims
would continue to give special
attention to the poor as
commanded by Allah and
exemplified by the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
conscience all over the world and
particularly in Nigeria who have
given their support in one form or
the other to voices of reason and
human decency for the people of
Palestine. They are humans like
us; children with dreams and hopes
for the future; young and old who
struggle everyday to pick up the
pieces of their lives, yet they are not
safe from the bullets of Israeli
snipers. We are appalled by the
silence of the Nigerian media on the
deaths of journalists killed by Israeli
soldiers.
The journalists were shot while
wearing the blue flak jacket marked
with the word ‘PRESS’ when
covering the protests at the Gaza
border. The journalists were shot
by Israeli snipers who are well
trained and took good aim before
they fired. The gruesome murder
of these journalists were not
reported by the Nigerian media and
Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018—27
Ramadan: Lagos Assembly urges
prayers for the nation
BY EBUN SESSOU
SPEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru
Obasa has urged Muslims to pray for the country and maintain
peace and unity during Ramadan.
In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak,
Obasa said: “Ramadan is a period that calls for sober reflection.
Therefore, it’s a time for us to share love among ourselves, maintain
peace and continue to pray for the unity of the country.”
“We should remain vigilant all the time and refrain from doing things
and making utterances that can lead to violence or chaos. Let us all
imbibe the spirit of love and peace which are the major symbols of
Ramadan. We must also continue to support and pray for government
at all levels. We are grateful for your support at all times. We can only
succeed through your support and prayers,” he said.
ISBON holds special prayers for retirees
FORMER Director (African Multilateral Affairs), Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Hussain, Former Acting Conservator
General, National Park Service, (NPS), Alhaji Abdulazeez Zab, Former
Deputy Director, Universal Basic Education Board, Federal Capital
Development Authority (FCDA), Alhaji Abdulraham Adesola Subair,
Former Senior Executive Officer, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Investment.
Other recipients are Mallam Omotayo Yakubu, Former Chief Driver,
State House, Abuja, Alhaja Olayinka Sefinat Audu, Former Principal
Confidential Secretary II, Federal Capital Development Authority
(FCDA), Alhaja Serifat Babatunde, Former Confidential Secretary I,
Federal Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Jimoh Rufai and Hajai Monsurat
Olagunju. Chairman of the planning committee, Alhaji Tawheed
Akinwande said ISBON appreciates their service to Nigeria hence the
special prayers to petition God for continued protection and blessings
in their future endeavours.
Speaking on behalf of recipient retirees, Alhaji Abdulraham Adeyeri
commended ISBON for the gesture, adding that all the honorees will
continue to contribute more to Islam especially through the society as
“one good turn deserves another’.
Guber aspirant, Adebutu holds special Iftar
BY ROTIMI AGBANA
OGUN State gubernatorial aspirant, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu,
hosted a special Ramadan lecture and Iftar at his private residence
at Iperu, Ogun State recently.
Ustaz Musboudeen Kazeem, who was the guest speaker, spoke on ‘The
benefits of Ramadan to every household- Iftar Package’; noting that Allah
will on the judgment day, call on every living soul to give account of their
deeds on earth.
He commended Hon. Adebutu’s generosity at the beginning of the
holy month of Ramadan, not forgetting his regular provision of iftar to
Iperu residents on a daily basis in the month of Ramadan.
He advised every Muslim to be good ambassador of Islam at all times,
adding that he would continue to on the path of the religion and the
practice of Prophet Muhammad, (s.aw).
L-R: Sadr Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Engr. Abdul Waheed Adeoye;
Managing Director, Kings-FM Ibadan, Alhaji Muhammed
Lawal; Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud
Fashola and General Manager Kings-FM, Pastor Kayode Akinshola,
after the Ramadan live programme aired by Kings-FM in
Ibadan.
MAI tasks world leaders, Rights groups, individuals on Gaza
this raises the question; are you less
of a journalist because you are a
Palestinian? Are the members of the
press so indifferent that the death of
a fellow journalist does not motivate
the pen to write. Perhaps there is a
threshold for the number of
journalists that have to be killed to
warrant reportage in the Nigerian
media. It is disheartening that
many Nigerians have shown little
or no concern for the people of
Palestine. Perhaps our response
resonates the religious and cultural
biases that we have. We must
remember that it is a moral duty to
speak out against oppression and
violations of human rights. We
understand that some Christians are
indifferent while many more
support Israel in recognition of the
Jews in the scriptures.
Unfortunately, the Zionist
government of Israel does not
identify with Christianity and all
Palestinian Christians and Muslims
remain victims of persecution by
the occupying Israeli forces.
We therefore call on all religious
leaders to give their voices in
support of the oppressed as
commanded by the scriptures. This
crisis is not about the religion of the
people. It is about their right to
survive and respect for their dignity
as human beings.
African
nations
involvement
The African nations have always
stood for truth, equity and justice.
The strength of our resolve and
determination led to the liberation
of South Africa from an apartheid
regime. If you remember Soweto
in South Africa, know that Gaza is
far worse. Gaza is an open prison
with more that 2 million people due
to the Israeli blockade and
continuous bombardment and
attacks.