The yearly event of the Lai Muhammed Ramadan Lecture was held in Oro, Irepodun local government penultimate weekend. It was the 12th edition and as usual, it was a gathering of top faces in the nation’s political circle. Kebbi State governor, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Bagudu was the Special Guest of Honour and in his speech, he said lack of resources can threaten the food chain system in the country and consequently hinder the mission to ensure food security. He therefore urged leaders at all levels of government to encourage farming activities submitting that such is the only way to ensure food security in the country. Noting that though the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has recorded huge achievements, there are, however, expectations and issues that require attention. He therefore asked Nigerians to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and pray for its success. Speaking on the valuable lessons expected to be learned through the 30-day fasting period , the governor said it is designed to remind the Muslims who are made to abstain from food for long hours that there are some people who regularly wait for longer hours without food apart from the Ramadan period. He advised Muslims to internalize the messages conveyed through fasting which is one of the principal pillars of Islam and sustain such in the post-Ramadan period. The Guest of Honour, the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu in his remarks lamented the absence of such gatherings on regular basis stating that the Muslims have been somewhat reduced to category of people that only get to hear the words of God on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan. He also taxed the Muslims on the need to seek Islamic knowledge and know about the religion they practise. The minister who reminded all that the mission on the planet earth is temporary and that all living souls will eventually transit to the great beyond where they will be for longer period. ‘Islam is the only religion that requires its followers to seek adequate knowledge of worship in order to gain the desires of eternal salvation. Islam is knowledge-based and not by wisdom, so Allah enjoins every Muslim to know about A to Z of their God in order to worship Him as instructed’ he stated. In his remarks, the Chief Host, Alhaji Lai Muhammed thanked the people for attending the event, stating that getting the annual lecture sustained to the 12th edition was because it has been recording convergence of the people. The Guest Lecturer, Imam Solihu Orire made reference to Verse 250 , Suratul Baqarah to establish the development recorded in the state political circle, a few weeks ago, and how the former ruling party was according to him, ‘uprooted’. Attributing the political success to God, Orire said the last year edition of the event had the people gathered and got set for the battle to uproot a firmly rooted tree and that they were not sure of the outcome. He added that God has a way of raising a group to checkmate another once there is the need to check their excesses. The Islamic cleric who hailed the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and commended him for the role he played in recording the said political success noted that if not that the constitution limited each Nigerian to two terms of eight years, he would have suggested that the president should continue beyond 2023 because eight years will not be enough to correct the wrongs of yesteryears. Also speaking at the event, former APC guber aspirant, Alhaji Yakub Gobir said the 12th edition of the Ramadan Lecture was meant to create a platform to show gratitude to God. ‘ It is for us to thank God and appreciate Him. It is all about victory. You know that the guest lecturer also made reference to that by likening it to the battle between David and Goliath, we are the David and we worked in cohesion to achieve success’ he said. Dignitaries at the event include the state APC Chairman, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa, former FCC Chairman, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Barrister Duro Sulaiman, Alhaji Yakub Gobir, former Commissioner for Information, Alh. Raheem Adedoyin, state APC Chairman, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa , House of Reps member Ajulo Opin, former Commissioner for Health , Dr Bola Olaosebikan, NURTW National Chairman, Alh. Najeem Yasin, popular student union leader now an activist, Comrade Wole Badmus.
