Abuja: Malam Fuad Adeyemi, Executive Director and National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, has called on Nigerians to view the electoral process as a celebration of choice rather than a period of fear. Speaking at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Workshop on Electoral Engagement and Peaceful Democratic Participation in Abuja, Adeyemi emphasized the importance of casting votes as a sacred trust and the need to educate communities on their civic duties to prevent electoral violence.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop was organized by Mambayya House, Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano, in collaboration with Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society. Adeyemi highlighted the challenges of electoral engagement and the need for peaceful participation in the democratic process. He stressed the importance of promoting values such as patience, tolerance, and respect for diverse perspectives as essential components of mature democratic engagement.
Adeyemi expressed that the purpose of the workshop was to foster discussions on politics, deemed the soul of the nation, and to encourage participants to spread the insights gained within their communities. He underscored the significance of the partnership between Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society and Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies in merging faith, academic rigor, and civic responsibility to educate Nigerians on peaceful democratic participation.
The cleric also mentioned the concept of developmental clericalism promoted by Al-Habibiyyah, where clerics are seen as agents of development beyond their religious duties. The workshop served as a platform to remind communities that participating in the democratic process is not only a civic right but also a moral obligation.
Dr. Kole Shettima, African Director of the MacArthur Foundation, also addressed the workshop, represented by Dr. Amina Salihu. Shettima echoed Adeyemi’s sentiments, urging Nigerians to approach elections as a matter of choice rather than fear, drawing parallels with the celebratory nature of elections in Australia.
In his welcome address, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed, Director of Mambayya House, announced a joint proposal by Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society and Mambayya House to promote peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections ahead of the 2027 general elections. The proposal aims to enhance civic education, youth engagement, counter misinformation, and promote peace-building mechanisms in collaboration with various stakeholders.