The Islamic cleric made this assertion on Saturday in Abuja at the 2nd annual Ramadan lecture of the Forum for Islamic Guidance (FIG) with the theme: ‘Freedom from the Slavery of Sin‘.
Bello who was represented by Imam Mohammad Buhari Musa of Citec Mosque Mbora Estate Abuja, Dr. Bello said that corruption, injustice is slowing Nigeria’s progress and that Muslims and all Nigerians must turn back to Almighty Allah total and sincere repentance if Nigeria must come out of insecurity and economic downturn currently bedeviling it.
Read Also: Hope Uzodinma: Why I Inaugurated New Imam
‘Nigeria is enmeshed in all forms of sins where banditry, kidnapping for ransom, wanton killings and burning of property, injustice, and corruption have become the order of the day.
‘It is either Muslims submit to the total will of Almighty Allah which leads to freedom from all sins or submit to Shaytan (devil) which is a straight road to bondage and janam (Hell),‘ he said.
Quoting from the Holy Quran, the guest lecturer said Allah has said He will not change the situation of a community or a nation unless the people change their ways of life.
He said, ‘Nigeria is already enmeshed in sins and it is only Allah that will take us out of the quagmire we have found ourselves but the change must first start from us.
“Today Muslims are very far from the logo, flag and legacy of Islam bestowed on us by Prophet Muhammad. What we need now is an attitudinal change from every Nigerian as the worst form of slavery is sin against our Creator’.
On his part, another cleric, Sheikh Buhari Musa said, ‘It is time to retrace our steps back to Allah, seek total repentance to reclaim and regain our country from the path of destruction. Allah loves this country but we are overstretching His mercies, we must not allow Him to visit us with more calamities.’
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
