As the Nigeria’s general election draws near, the Organisation of Muslim Unity (OMU), Nigeria has called on the electorate to vote their conscience, choose credible candidates and avoid selling their votes in the interest of good governance and national development.
The organization has also charged politicians, particularly candidates of political parties in the country to desist from all sorts of vote buying which is outrightly uncivilized, adding that they should rather imbibe the strategy of canvassing voters with good manifestos and protect themselves as reliable and sellable candidates.
The admonition was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 81st NEC Meeting of the OMU held in Ilorin, weekend and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the organization, Dr. Hadi Mashood Atanda.
On the redesigning of the nation’s currencies, the Islamic body observed that the new naira notes as it affects the higher denominations is a welcome development.
It however called on the government to review upward the minimum amount to be collected in a day or weekly basis for individuals and corporate entities respectively, observing that the current policy on withdrawal by the Central Bank of Nigeria is capable of pushing many people out of business and eventually creat more problems than it intend to solve.
The organization also used the medium to commend the Academic Staff Union of Universities for calling off its eight months strike in the interest of the students and the nation.
It therefore implored the Federal Government to reciprocate the good gesture of the versity lecturers by releasing their withheld salary, so as to cushion the effect of their sufferings.
Towards the 2023 National Census, the organization called on Muslims to actively participate in the exercise, using their Muslim names for registration
It however urged the National Population Commission to endeavour to conduct the census with the fear of Allah, good conscience and optimal efficiency, reiterating that a credible census will no doubt put Nigeria on sound footing of credible development.
Meanwhile, the front line Islamic body has expressed appreciation to the new administration in Ekiti State over the recent appointment of a devoted muslim woman and respected university don, Alhaja, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro as the first female Secretary to the State Government.
” With this appointment, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has proven to the world that he is an unbiased, detribalised and not a religious bigot. We congratulate him on his election victory and wish him a successful tenure”, the communique added.