The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has cautioned the Federal Government against the proposed replacement of Islamic and Christian Studies with religion and national values in secondary schools.
Advocating the maintenance of the status quo, the royal father, who is also the president-general, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said it was one of the surest ways to promote the ebbing moral rectitude in the pupils.
Sultan Abubakar spoke through the Secretary-General of the council, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, at the installation and turbaning of the new Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, in Ibadan, on Saturday.
Also at the event, the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, called on influential Muslim faithful and scholars to start establishing schools to propagate the faith, while he further advised adherents to teach their children Arabic, handcrafts and good morals.
Akinola succeeds the late business mogul, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, who died in his London home on June 18, 2014, arising from reported complications from prostrate cancer.
The turbaning ceremony was also attended by the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, and Muslim leaders across the South-West, Edo and Delta States.
The sultan expressed concerned over religious disturbances, militancy and immoral acts among the youth, a development he blamed on lack of parental care and poor upbringing.
“I want to advise the FG to shelve the proposed introduction of religion and natural studies in junior secondary schools in place of Islamic and Christian religion studies. We need to continue to teach our children religion.
“The unrest we are witnessing today can be blamed on lack of good morals and proper upbringing of the youths. We should continue to teach Islamic and Christian studies from primary school to secondary school to shape the future lifestyle of these children.
“Islamic teachers should also take the advantage of Friday prayers to teach pupils citing examples from events around the country and not by quoting from ancient books that have no relevance to their immediate environment.”
Addressing the gathering, the governor of Oyo State urged Muslims wherever they found themselves to unite and collaborate on programmes and projects that would promote the religion.
“We should begin to take steps that will propagate Islam. Islamic organisations need to up the ante by ensuring that they use every opportunity to promote Islam. This is one way of winning more souls for Islam.
“Arabic teachers should device means of boosting the enrolment figures in Arabic schools. On this, I will advise that Arabic teachers minimize corporate punishments, which discouraged some of us from attending such schools when we were young.”
The sultan and the governor advised the new Aare to inculcate the philanthropic gestures of the late Arisekola, which they said endeared him to many people, including Christians that benefitted from his benevolence.
Akinola was also advised to see his new status as an opportunity to use his wealth, connections and influence to promote Islam.
In his acceptance speech the new Aare Musulumi pledged that he would not disappoint the Muslim leaders, while he called for support and guidance from his spiritual fathers and other stakeholders.
“I have dedicated the rest of my life to the propagation of Islam. As I long as I live, I will continue to promote Islamic religion. I will not disappoint you, my family and the religion.”
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