By Deji Abdulwahab
“Currently, Al-Habibiyyah is promoting what we call developmental clericalism, in which clerics does not only stay and lead prayers, but must be an agent of development.”
Adeyemi said the two organisations collaborated to educate Nigerians on the need to participate in the country’s democratic process in a peaceful manner.
“We are leveraging our unique strength to remind our community that participating in democratic process is not just a civic right, it is a moral obligation that must be executed with integrity, honesty and absolute peace.
“Perhaps this marriage might be looking strange, but it’s one of the best things that has happened to our country.
“We cannot talk about this powerful synergy between Al-Habibiyyah and Mambayya House today without expressing our deepest appreciation to our common benefactor and partner, the MacArthur Foundation.
In his remarks, African Director of MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, said election should not be a do or die affair, but a matter of choice, not a matter of fear.
Shettima, represented by Dr Amina Salihu, Deputy Director, Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, said Nigerians should borrow a leaf from Australian elections.
“In 2018, I had the privilege of attending the International Political Science Association Conference in Brisbane. And one of the things that we learned about the Australian elections is that on election day, it’s like a party.
“People wear their beach clothes, they go to the beach, they even have what they call democracy sausage, which is a special kind of barbecue on election day.
“And so you ask your neighbour, have you voted? Where are you going to vote? Oh, I have voted. I’m back. Let’s go to the beach and have a party.
“It is an aberration that we should have electoral engagement and peaceful participation in one sense. This is what I’m driving at.
“Election should not be a do or die affair. Like Imam Fuad said, it should be a matter of choice, not a matter of fear.
“And so I think the task before all of us as Nigerians is to begin to think about how we can turn this around from a behavioural point of view,” Shettima said.
In his address of welcome, the Director of Mambayya House, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed, said Al-Habibiya Islamic Society and Mambayya House have jointly developed a comprehensive large-scale proposal aimed at promoting peaceful, credible, inclusive and violence-free elections in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed said that, with or without funding, the two organisations were always ready to pursue the project.
According to him, the proposed intervention seeks to deepen civic education, strengthen youth engagement, counter misinformation and hate speech.
“It also aims to promote interface and intergenerational dialogue, support community-based peace-building mechanisms and enhance collaboration among state institutions, civil society organisations and traditional and religious leaders.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi