Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, the Amir (National Head) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria was a special guest of honour at the annual post-Ramadhan grand lecture organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization, Osun State held at Ansarudeen Central Mosque Ejigbo, Osun State.
His attendance at the programme was part of the itinerary of his one-day working visit to the State and was accompanied by the Naib Amir (Deputy National President) South West region Alhaji AbdulAzeez Alatoye, the General Secretary AMJN Alh Abbas Iromini and National Secretary for Agriculture Prof. Abdur Rahman Abdullah.
Delivering his lecture on the topic of the day titled: ” Contemporary Challenges and Its Impact on Human Development, ” the guest lecturer and the National Secretary for Tabligh (Preaching) AMJN Dr. Saheed Olurotimi Timehin highlighted some of the challenges hindering the growth and development of human race in the country. These include political challenges, economic challenges, moral and spiritual challenges as well as security challenges.
He traced the genesis of Nigeria’s problems to the forceful amalgamation of the two halves of the country- Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 by the British. A decision he said, was taken by the Westerners to satisfy their selfish motives of improving their economic activities to the detriment of the indigenous people.
Dr. Timehin said the country is at the brink of total collapse due to the nonchalant attitudes and selfish interest of the government, and if necessary machinery is not put in place, aggrieved Nigerians may soon wage war against the government. He added that Nigerians are suffering and that the constitution only favors the looters and not the masses.
Way out of Bad Governance
According to him, one of the surest means of solving the contemporary problems affecting human development is for the government to provide good governance at all levels. That government must re-orientate and empower the youths, provide the basic amenities needed by all to survive. He also said there was an urgent need to review the constitution to correct some flaws it contained.
The senior lecturer of Arabic Studies at Lagos State University also urged all Muslims to understand and fear God Almighty and pray fervently for His intervention. Dr. Timehin further admonished youths not to be indolent and lazy. That youth must strive to be self-reliant and upgrade their status in their various professions.
Dr. Fashola, in his remarks, opined that the political process in Nigeria has been faulty ab initio hence the prevalence of bad governance in all government parastatals but believed the problem could be a nip in the bud with collective and sincere prayers. He also advised the government to expedite actions on improving the living standard of the populace.
