....Such
measures were comprehensively taken in European and Asian countries covering
special researches on the Covid - 19 to save humanity. Like America and Asia,
the African data is on the increase. The situation in Nigeria also takes same
trend with the lockdown of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun,...
In
the name of Allah Who states “… if anyone saved a life, it will be as if he
saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our
messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to
commit excesses in the land” Quran5:32
Peace
and blessings of Allah be upon His noble servant, our master Muhammad (S) and
his purified progeny.
Sha'ban
is very significant, historic and eventful month. The events include birth of
Imam Husain (AS), on the 3rd, 3 years AH; Imam Ali Zain al - Abideen (AS), 5th,
38 years AH; Abul Fadhl al - Abbas 4th, 26 years AH; Ali al - Akbar whose
birthday is considered day of the youth in the Islamic Iran, and Imam Muhammad
al - Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearanceon 15th, 255 yearsAH. Equally, the
Islamic Movement commemorates birthday of Sheikh el-Zakzaky on the same
date.Nisfu Sha'ban or 15th day is uniquely observed preceded its night full of
significant activities. The Islamic movement traditionally commemorates the
event in colorful celebration centrally in presence of its leader.
Covid
- 19 pandemic is today’s topic. Based on the Johns Hopkins University monitored
data, the global statistics on infection above 800,000, with death nearing
40,000; United States (164,603), Italy (101,739), Spain (87,956), China
(82,240), and Germany (66,885) accordingly topping the list.
Thedisastrous
pandemic terribly affects global economy and other sectors of human endeavors.
As such, the economy faces unprecedented recession that could not be precisely
predicted. Oil prices now languish at 17-year lows as pandemic threatens global
recession on market dynamics. The recent forecasts on pension funds purchase in
stocks before the end of the terrible quarter was estimated within a range of
about $20 billion to over $200 billion by Wall Street. Several strategists
expect lower rate of the range raising concerns on what could happen next month.
It is very clear that as the international community places their nations in
lockdown, they equally take passionate measures to ensure the welfare of their
citizens with extraordinary stimulus packages. In a Fox interview, President
Trump has signed the US $2.2 trillion emergency funding package “could go up
further because we’re going to help Boeing and we’re going to help the
airlines.” He also added that there are many companies that were “in great
shape 3 weeks ago all of a sudden theyare you know, struggling for survival.
These are companies that never thought about survival”. It is critical to
understand that companies who did not think about survival and piled on record
debt to waste billions on share buybacks were not “in great shape 3 weeks ago”
and their managers should be fired, not rewarded with bailouts and bonuses.With
the US, currently epicenter of the pandemic, over 1,000 New Yorkers have died
and more than 38,000 have been infected. Dr. Ross MacDonald, the chief
physician at Rikers Island, expressed need to decongest prison facilities to
avoid a humanitarian disaster, as hundreds of staff and prisoners tested
positive.
Such
measures were comprehensively taken in European and Asian countries covering
special researches on the Covid - 19 to save humanity. Like America and Asia,
the African data is on the increase. The situation in Nigeria also takes same
trend with the lockdown of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun, in addition to other states
placed by their respective governors following their situation. The need for
comprehensive and well managed measures especially for her population and
economic equations cannot be overemphasized.
Invariably,
Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky (H), remains a great personality symbolizing peace,
patience, endurance, unity and progress. For more than four years, he was a
victim of heinous persecution on an unprecedented scale. On baseless reasons,
he and his disciples were attacked by the Nigerian army between 12th to 15th
December, 2015 where about a thousand innocent citizens were brutally
massacred. Ever since,the Islamic Movement requests for his unconditional
release, his wife and other detainees; release of those buried in mass graves
for proper Islamic burial; compensation for destroyed facilities and bringing
to book the perpetrators. International and local human rights and civil
liberties groups persistently call for justice though falling to the deaf ears
of authorities.
In
what the chair of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission, an august
umbrella of about 30 Islamic and other nongovernmental organizations of Global
network for justice, Masoud Shadgerah described as late but positive response
from authorities was the assessment of the Sheikh and his wife's health 8
months back by foreign experts from India. He said if the government had done
well, that could had been a starting point to the solution of the pending
problem. It could be recalled that the Sheikh and his wife had very complicated
health problems when they were allowed assessment more than six months ago
consequent to his lawyers insisted requests. Then, visiting consultants arrived
the country and successfully ascertained their condition. The Sheikh was
diagnosed with multiple complications as he lives with many pellets including
his remaining eye. His wife also has similar complications. The experts
certified as observed much earlier that they needed medical attention of experts
abroad. No sooner, the report was made public, individuals and organizations
renewed calls for prompt action including the Christian association of Nigeria
(CAN). Later, the Sheikh went to India for medication but due to alleged
connivance of the two governments, he finally returned unattended. Since then,
their situation continued deterioration in detention facility from which they
were finally transferred to dilapidated Kaduna prison.
In
different press releases, by the Chairs ofLondon based Islamic human rights
commission, Academic and Media fora of the Islamic Movement, alarm was
disturbingly raised with regard to the condition of elderly and ailing Sheikh
and his wife in the dilapidated facility amid increasing spate of the Covid-19,
reiterating the urgent and unconditional release for the duo. In view of this,
I want to emphasize this for the Nigerian government to bring an end to this
problem by obeying the Justice Kolawale verdict of 2016 ontheirunconditional
release and compensation which all peace-loving citizens and our well-wishers
strongly emphasize. At this juncture, it is pertinent to state the fact that
leadership is not a privilege but a bigresponsibility that must not be taken
for granted. Leaders should know that they are custodians of the people and are
accountable to Allah for this trust given to them. And the essence of
governance is to ensure justice and improve socio-economic well-being of the
society. Shaikh Usman Bn Fodio, the great social reformist of our region,in an
oft repeated quotesaid "a kingdom can endure with unbelief, but it cannot
endure with injustice.
Wassalamu
alaikum.
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