Reduce Suffering In The Country — South-West Muslims Tells Tinubu

The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), which represents Muslims in the region, has counseled President Bola Tinubu to work harder to lessen suffering in the nation.

MUSWEN President and Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, made the call at the 9th MUSWEN General Assembly on Sunday.

DAILY POST reports that the event was witnessed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal; Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Professor Muslih Tayo Yahya; and Director of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Professor Isiaq Lakin Akintola.

Oladejo, while speaking at the event, maintained that the current economic situation in the country should be handled with serious caution.

He advised Tinubu to show more human feelings and put measures in place in order to mitigate the general suffering in the country.

Oladejo, while speaking further, urged Tinubu to spend the gains made on subsidy removal on security, infrastructure development, electrification, massive food production, and employment-generating projects.

He added that food importation should not be an option to be considered, as it would make a mockery of subsidy removal.

Oladejo further urged Tinubu to listen to the cry of Nigerians on the proposed tax reform bill.

He said, “On the proposed Tax Reform Bill, I urge Mr. President to listen to the outcries from various groups and sections of the country.

“The current economic situation in the country requires serious caution to handle. The government should show more human feelings and put measures in place to mitigate the general suffering wrought on the citizenry by some of the economic policies.

“Although we recognize the fact that the situation is not the creation of the Tinubu administration, the government should do all in its power to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

“That is the reason Nigerians overwhelmingly voted this government into office in the 2023 election, and the President should have no reason not to make life comfortable for the people.

“On their part, too, the people should be careful not to play into the hands of politicians who had never seen anything good in the administration.

“These are the political leaders who still carry on, more than one year after the 2023 general elections, as if we are still in the electioneering period. To them, any action taken by the administration is subject to politicization, as they never see anything good in whatever action taken or not taken by the government.

“Even though somehow harsh, the government’s economic policies are meant to correct the maladministration of the past and put the country on a firm economic footing.

“The government should spend the gains made on subsidy removal on security, infrastructure development, electrification, massive food production, and employment-generating projects.

“Let me, however, sound a note of warning that food importation should not be an option to be considered; it is not a solution because it would make a mockery of subsidy removal.

“Permit me to mention here that MUSWEN has been part of the distribution of palliatives to the needy. We consider this a moral and religious obligation.”