Cleric urges good leadershi for security
Hauwa Abu Anaja, Abuja

The Chief Imam of the University of Abuja, Imam Taofeeq Abdulaziz says traditional and religious leaders play a vital role in enhancing security in Nigeria.

Mr Abdulaziz said this while delivering a lecture titled 'Insecurity: the way out", organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria in Abuja.

Imam Taofeeq said security was everybody's business, and urged government, religious and traditional rulers to lead responsibly.

He also said Nigerians had a vital role to play in curbing insecurity by insisting on responsible leadership that could provide good governance.

Commenting on the Boko Haram saga, the cleric stressed that the group was not an islamist sect, but a militant group and called on the media not to promote it as an islamic group.

"To make matters worse, the media tags them islamic group, how can that be an islamic group, it is a political instrument,"
he said.

Financial Security

According to the cleric, financial security is a major instrument in the fight against terrorism and other forms of violence.

He said while working to ensure security, government should not lose sight of the level of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, adding that these situations lead people to evil acts.

"An idle man is the devil's workshop, let government provide jobs and standard education because when a person is empowered, he will not be cajoled in to doing evil. A hungry man is vulnerable to different forms of temptation," Imam Taofeeq stressed.

Eid-el Maulud is an Islamic holiday to commemorate the birth of the prophet Muhammed, who was born on the 9th of Rabiul Awwal, the third Month of the Islamic calendar.

Public lectures, Qur'anic recitations and competitions, debates and quiz competitions make up activities used to mark the day in Nigeria.

Ugo