Taiwo Odutola(Intern)
A Non Governmental Organisation known as Iyawo Alhaji Itoku Community and Development Initiative on Sunday bestowed Peace and Civic Responsibility Advocacy Award to Chief Imam of Raquab Mosque Olorunsogo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Alayanade Ajani.
Penpushing reports that the colourful ceremony was held at the mosque located alongside Moshood Abiola Way with presence of dignatries including other islamic clerics witin and outside Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, who came to be part of the historic moment.
The award indicated that Ajani was recognised for his committed to promoting peace, unity, tolerance and civic responsibility,as well as using his voice to encourage responsible citizenship and peaceful co-existence
Penpushing further reports that in the letter of nomination sent to Ajani by the founder of the organisation Oladunni Sodipo, explained that when he speaks, the community listens with faith, adding that the body believe his voice will help build a peaceful and responsible nation
‘Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, With profound respect, I, the founder IyawoAlhaji Itoku Community and Development Initiative, a non political, and non religious organisation focused on educating citizens on the need to register, obtain and Protect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), write to inform you that you have been nominated for our prestigious award of: Peace and civic responsibility award’, the letter read.
‘This Award is presented in recognition of your consistent use of your noble platform to preach peace, unity, tolerance and responsible citizenship in our community and our nation. This is exactly what our initiative stands for. Peace is the foundation of development, and responsible citizenship is the duty of every believer’, Sodipo wrote.
‘That is why we are giving you this award and also humbly inviting you to lend your respected voice with ours, to tell people to protect their PVC and use it wisely on election day. When our father, the Chief Imam speaks, the community listens with faith. We believe your voice will help us build a peaceful and responsible nation. Congratulations once again, Chief Imam’, the letter added.
Penpushing also reports that Sodipo, during an interview with journalists explained that the Ajani’s religious tolerance was a motivating factor to honour him, stressing that he is known to be fearless in speaking the truth through his preaching.
The foundation boss who is a staff of Federal Medical Centre(FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, emphasised that the organisation, as part of its policy is to appreciate those doing well in the society, particularly the unknown ones who have been contributing meaningfully to development growth of the society
Penpushing further reports that Sodipo emphasised that the organisation is non-partisan and non-religion, but set out to encourage electorate to guide well their Permanent Voter Cards(PVC) ahead of the 2027 poll, stressing that the card remains their power to choose rightful leaders
The founder disclosed that she started the initiative in 2021, having realised that many Nigerians are not conscious of the importance of Permanent Voter Cards(PVC), which she linked to poverty, noting that majority are interested on what will be their monetary gain, hence, she took steps further to enlightened them
‘I started this initiatives in 2021 , good woman in governance initiatives. By the time I was trying to engage people I found out that they did not have voters card and I look at it, they talking about governance, good governance and people don’t really have voters card’, Sodipo said.
‘I was doing it, continues like that but people are not really showing interest and other things. Gathering people together and people start asking are they going to give us money, are they going to give us everything and I will say no’,she stated.
‘So later when INEC said they are going to start the registration I said Ok, this is an opportunity for me to tell people to start doing their registration and get involved as far as the Civic responsible is concern ,I found out that what am I going to do to catch people, what am I going to use to make it up original’
And my husband is a Muslim, he’s an Alhaji and I said that is what am going to use , let me use it and even in my place of work that is what they always call me Iyawo Alhaji and I said Ok, this is original, let me come out and use this thing and that was how I started’.
‘I started August 18, immediately INEC said they going to start the registration that was how I started, before it was Iyawo Alhaji so when I wanted to registration it in CAC ,I found out that somebody else is using the name and I don’t want to drop the name so I added Itoku to it. We have been to the market, and we have done our registration and that one enough give me joy ,give me the what am really talking about, what the initiatives actually stand for,so that is just it’
Penpushing also reports that on challenges facing the organisation, Sodipo said it has been funding, which include how to gather people, transportaion to every part of the South-West, the flyers, T-Shirt among others .
‘Another thing is when you want to get people’s attention, for you to get people’s attention they will say they are not interested and that their vote will not count, that they are not interested in PVC, so to get people’s attention is another area of challenges but with time I see people telling me that they actually love it’, she added.
Penpushing reports that the awardee in his remarks expressed appreciation to the organisation to have considered him among hundreds of Islamic cleric in the state, adding that the award was motivational for him and equually spurred him to greater height
‘Well I thank God, because if there is no God there is nothing in life. I really appreciate my God and those people that thinks that I need to get the award because without God and all this too, there is nothing for me’, Ajani stated.
‘But I thank God for making people like this organization to remember me because we are not the only one that preach , we are not the only Imam that hold the work of God but to remember me that I deserve this award well Allahu Akbar and I also appreciate you people that pick us. I thank everybody and I really appreciate everybody’, he adde.
Penpushing further reports that the Imam expressed optimism that the organisation will contribute meaningfully to the developmental growth of Nigeria, and encouraged the leadership not to relent in their efforts in making the country great.
‘This organization has been our organization and my prayers is that we should continue on how to make Nigeria progress, is not a one man thing and this one that you did now, it gives us encouragement that what we are doing is good and that we should continue doing it and peace should reign in our community’
‘And I must not see a Christian and say that he is my enemy ,but we are one Nigeria, one Yoruba even if we said that he is an Hausa man, still he is a Nigerian the Igbo also are part of Nigeria, we must ensure peace reign among us in our society’.
‘If peace reign ,and we love each other that is how Nigeria can progress, then we can bring ideas to contribute, in doing so it can make Nigeria progress. So without peace we cant accept each other , am very sure that is not all of us here is a Muslim, but I am a Muslim and I accepted and appreciate you with love because we are Nigerians’
Penpushing also reports that Ajani on advice for politicians said they should desist throwing the governed into hardship and abject poverty, pointing out that there is no security, water electricity and good roads among other things
‘My advice for our politicians, I don’t know how to say it because our politicians in Nigeria, they don’t like us , if they like us they cannot rule us this way because the way they are ruling us is a hard way which is a totally bad for us in our society’
‘See Nigeria now we don’t have peace, no food, no water, no electricity and there is no good road so who ever God call as leader is the one in charge, because you can’t just get there even if you cheat to get there, is God’s wish for you to get there but if you later become a leader don’t be a bad example for your people. Do what will make your people happy’
‘So if they want to do it for us we need a good road ,water, electricity, and we need our economy to be regulated , not that our economy will be irregular,look at how everything is now,but when u get to politician house you will be seeing cars more than 10, some 20, it shouldn’t be so, but my prayers is that God will help us .
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