Invest More in Agriculture and Rural Development, Says Amir Fasola

Malik Yahya/

The Amir (Head ) Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr Mashuud Adenrele  Fasola has urged the Nigerian government under President Muhammed Buhari, to invest more in Agriculture and rural development as a catalyst to solving the economic problems facing the country.

This advice is contained in an Eid el Fitri message from the Ahmadiyya Muslim group.

Dr Fasola, a development economist submitted in his sermon that if agricultural and rural development were promoted, there would be abundant food production, as well as job creation that will make every citizen have enough income to buy food.

Despite the abundant arable land and natural soil for agricultural development, he noted that thousands of Nigerian youths do not want to engage in agriculture but prefer to travel abroad for greener pastures through many illegal means.

In his words, “These days, thousands of young men and women from Nigeria and many other Muslim-dominated countries, are fleeing their countries to escape poverty, joblessness, insecurity and communal or civil war, and seek survival in rich countries. Many of them perish on the way while many end up virtually in slavery and servitude, being treated like animals.”

He equally charged Religious organisations and their leaders to play a significant role in addressing hunger of their members, rather pre-occupy themselves with religious indoctrination and wasteful rituals and ceremonies rather than the promotion of the wellbeing of indigent members of the religious organisation. 

He suggested empowerment programmes on agricultural production and various small-scale enterprises, as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at has done in the production of cassava for  Gari “cassava flour-staple food and mass plantation of Banana in Ikirun, as well women skill acquisition scheme embarked upon in Ilaro.

These initiatives are quite apt  as  it “will be tough or impossible to address insecurity, criminality, drug addiction, immorality, domestic violence and youth suicide, without addressing joblessness, hunger, apathy and indifference of well-to-do members of the society to the suffering of the less-privileged and indigent members.”

The Muslim cleric noted that Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is intended to celebrate the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to mankind. 

He urged everyone to reflect deeply on the lessons of Ramadan.

He stated: “During the fasting, we are able to concentrate on studying and reflecting on the contents of the Holy Qur’an. Allah, the Gracious, draws our attention in Chapter 20 verses 1 to 7 that the revelation of the Holy Qur’an was not intended to be a source of distress or hardship, but caution on the grave dangers that may confront mankind individually and collectively.

“Allah who sent down the Holy Qur’an is in the best position to guide mankind for He is the Creator of the Earth and high Heaven, and all things in heaven, on the earth, in-between and underneath belong to Him. So, if it is the world we seek, He is in the best position to guide us towards it, and if it is high heaven we seek, He is in the best position to guide us to its realisation.

“Similarly, in Chapter 2, verse 186, Allah declares that He desires ease and not hardship for mankind through the prescription of fasting.”

Dr Fasola sued for peace within and outside the country noting that “Allah desires to draw our attention to the major commandments that will bring wellbeing and peace and not hardship and chaos. Allah is in the best position to guide man because He is the Creator and Owner of Heavens and the Earth, and what is between the two and what is beneath the earth, and He is the Gracious, the All-knowing, the Wise, and Almighty.” 

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