The endorsements of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the March election, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, increased last Wednesday, with a call made by South-West Muslims for the re-election of the duo.

Prominent Muslim leaders in the South-West region, as well as delegates from the Middle Belt and the Arewa community in the South-West of Nigeria, on Wednesday, gathered at the Adegbemile Cultural centre, Akure, Ondo State, to dialogue with the Vice President Namadi Sambo at the instance of the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

The main agenda on the dialogue menu was nothing other than the approaching presidential election.

It will suffice to describe the gathering as a prayer meeting, as prayers were offered for the nation. With the presence of key Islamic figures at the meeting and a large number of spiritual Islamic delegates, a prayer session should only be natural.

The Secretary-General of the South-West League of Imams and Alfas was present, as well as the Chief Imam of Owoland, Alhaji (Sheikh) Ahmad Aladesawe who read the welcome address. Also present at the event was the Chief Imam of Oshogbo, Alhaji Shehu Musa Animashaun, Deputy Chief Imam of Ogun State, Alhaji Bamgbola, Chief Imam of Delta, Sheikh Abdul Ahmed, Chief Imam of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Imam of Ekiti, Sheikh Bello Keulere, Dr Kalil Koyejo Oloso, as well as delegates and representatives of Morcas, Agege, Lagos.

Speaking at the gathering where Senator Iyiola Omisore and Alhaji Tai Lawal, former deputy governor of Ekiti State were also present, Vice President Namadi Sambo reeled out the achievements of the administration, emphasising that the government is committed to conducting a free and fair election.

In his welcome address, Sheikh Aladesawe gave kudos to the Jonathan/Sambo government for what he referred to as its numerous enviable and laudable achievements.

The Sheikh implored politicians and their followers to respect the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians and most especially, the sanctity of human lives.

“As Muslims, we believe in the power of Allah to appoint every leader at an appointed time. So we shall continue to pray very hard to ensure that the coming elections are not only credible but free and fair,” he said.

At the session, Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the South-West was an enviable example of religious tolerance, adding that people should not look at the PDP presidential candidate, Dr Goodluck Joanthan and the  All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari,  from a religion angle. Rather, he advocated that they should be examined in terms of their service to the people. The governor said President Jonathan had been able to demonstrate his ability to allow press freedom, provide education, good transportation system and improve on Agriculture, among other feats which, he said, the APC candidate could not achieve when he had the opportunity to rule the nation.

Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Kewulere, who heads the entire Ekiti State Muslims, observed with excitement the drop in the price of some food stuffs in the country, especially rice, which, he said, had dropped to about N8, 000 from about N12, 000. Applauding the achievements of the Federal Government, he implored that steps should be taken to ensure that its empowerment facilities for farmers get to genuine farmers. He added that since a government was eligible to serve for eight years, there shouldn’t be a ruse about the re-election of President Jonathan, adding that the government should be allowed to run its full term.

“You have done well in almost every area, you have built roads, you have built Almajiri’s schools but we want more,” the Sheikh said.

Dr Kalil Koyejo Oloso thanked God for the gathering and prayed that Nigeria would continue to wax strong in peace and unity.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the session, the Muslims said, as Muslims of the South-West, their scorecard of the Jonathan/Sambo administration was far above average. Thus, they unanimously posited that the administration deserved another term.

Eulogising the Jonathan-led administration on the success it has so far recorded in the education sector, the Muslims opined that education remained paramount if the nation must remain united, and thus identified with the Jonathan government’s  policy on Education, which, they said, sought to “creatively develop Nigerian youths, particularly those of the Northern Nigeria, through the establishment of about 200 Almajiri schools, including the founding of at least 12 universities, nine of which are located in the predominantly Muslim states of Northern Nigeria,” insisting that the culture of  dependency that was alien to Islam and upon which social vices, including Boko Haram, took its root, could only be eradicated through knowledge and sound education.

Registering that the protection of lives and property remains the major responsibility of any government, the Muslims said security challenges had, indeed, remained a battle to be fought and won, hence, they aligned with “other Nigerians who appreciate that security is a collective responsibility which requires all hands to be on deck, particularly with the Federal Government leading the pack.”