By Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
Renowned Islamic scholar, Mufti Menk, has expressed confidence that Nigeria, as Africa’s powerhouse, can excel if its citizens unite in supporting and demanding exemplary leadership at all levels.
Addressing journalists at the State House following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mufti Menk stressed the significance of Nigerians being a cohesive force, respecting, and valuing their leaders to drive the nation towards unprecedented success.
“If you look at the countries that have failed, it’s because they don’t respect their leadership…but if we are going to rally behind the leadership and ensure that every one of us contributes positively to this nation, Nigeria can be the best nation in Africa,” asserted Mufti Menk.
Emphasizing the imperative for unity and respect among citizens and their leadership, he added, “We need to be a united people; we need to respect each other, the leadership that we have, we should appreciate it, we should acknowledge it. We should understand that if we are going to respect our leadership, we will be able to achieve as a nation.”
Citing Nigeria’s pivotal role in Africa, Mufti Menk, drawing from his African heritage, highlighted the country’s economic prowess, stating, “Myself being an African coming from Zimbabwe, we always look at Nigeria as one of the biggest economies, if not the biggest in Africa.”
Referencing the fates of other nations, Mufti Menk underscored the respect for leadership as a critical determinant of national prosperity, asserting, “If you look at the countries that have failed, it’s because they don’t respect their leadership and they actually fail as a result.”
Urging Nigerians to chart a different course by actively supporting their leaders, he opined that this stance could propel Nigeria to become the foremost African nation.
Furthermore, Mufti Menk encouraged Nigerians to demonstrate integrity and honesty in their service to the nation, believing that this could serve as a beacon for the entirety of Africa.
Explaining the purpose of his visit to Nigeria, Mufti Menk highlighted his attendance at the forthcoming peace and unity convention in Abuja. He noted that the convention aims to empower Nigeria to coexist harmoniously, fostering mutual respect despite differing faiths and backgrounds for the nation’s collective success, following a similar event in Lagos the previous week.
In concluding remarks, Mufti Menk implored Nigerians to strive for righteousness and sincerity in serving the nation, envisioning Nigeria as an exemplar for the continent and expressing, “I always pray that we can be upright citizens and that we will achieve more than we’ve actually dreamt of.”
Accompanying Mufti Menk on the delegation were the Ameer/President of 1-Ummah, Abubakar Mohammed, and other esteemed Islamic scholars including Ustadh Wael Ibrahim, Dr Muhammad Salah, and Sheikh Ammar Al-Shukry.