From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Muslim clerics and Islamic religious leaders in the country to preach against the evils of corruption in their mosques.

The president equally urged them to pray for the survival of the country, just as they prayed for his recovery when he was sick.

Buhari, represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, spoke yesterday at the 55th anniversary and national conference of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The event was also used to officially turban the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, as the Baba Adinni of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states.

The president, who lauded the League for holding together 55 years on, told the religious leaders to always impress it on their followers that corrupt persons will not enter Al-Janah.

He noted that prayers have played a major role in keeping the country together. He insisted that members of the league must continue to pray for the survival of Nigeria and also denounce corruption at every given opportunity.

“Corruption is one of the major problems facing our country. Always preach against corruption in your mosques. Corruption does not pay, impress it on your congregation that anyone who engages in corruption will not enter Al-Janah.

“You should also continue to pray for the unity and survival of Nigeria. This is because prayer is key, your prayers actually worked for me as I recovered from illness,” Buhari said.

The president, therefore, enjoined the League not to shy away from passing suggestions, recommendations and advice capable of helping the country across to him. Declaring the conference open, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, asked the religious body to always inculcate Islamic values in Muslim Uma’ah.

Amosun, who noted that the gathering depicts oneness and unity which Islam preaches, urged the League to always offer prayers on unity, peace and progress of Nigeria. 

In his welcome address, President General of the League, Sheikh Muhammed Bello, disclosed that the conference was first of its kind since the body was founded by late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Adam Abdulahi. 

He said the conference will focus on the unity among Muslims in the South West and the country at large.