During a virtual Ramadan lecture on Sunday, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, gave a thought-provoking speech. He criticized society evils like greed, selfishness, and corruption and emphasized the value of spiritual reflection.
Emir Sanusi presented a profound moral perspective in his speech titled “Some Dimensions of the Concept of Ibadah.” He asserted that actions motivated by envy, greed, and selfishness are more terrible sins than taboo behaviors like illegal sex, homosexuality, and gambling.
In spite of religious observances like prayers and fasting, the previous governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) brought attention to a pervasive problem in Nigerian society by linking social dysfunction to a lack of Islamic ideals in people’s hearts.
Emir Sanusi went on to condemn unscrupulous activities among the political elite, claiming that a governor of a state that was enforcing Sharia law had embezzled public monies.
He used the example of a governor who allegedly embezzled funds to acquire a hotel in Lagos, denouncing such actions as a violation of public trust, even though he did not name the governor specifically.
Sanusi bemoaned the situation in the state in question, calling it a “very serious example of backwardness” and suggesting that corruption and poor administration impede advancement.
The famous economist emphasized the need for leaders to be accountable, claiming that a recognition of one’s responsibility to a higher force would prevent corruption and advance moral leadership.
His words, “On Social order and Ibadah, you know when our hearts are not good, our deeds will not be good,” he said.
“We say we are Muslims, we go to the mosque and pray and Allah says prayer stops evil deeds and wrong deeds. Why is it that we go to pray all the time, we fast all the time and then we are committing this evil?
“How do you get a Muslim to become a minister or governor and all he is thinking of is how he is going to steal public funds to build a big house for himself or have billions for his children and deny people?
“When you know what the prophet has said about leadership. It is a trust and on the day of judgment, it would be a source of bitterness sadness, and regret, for those who do not keep that trust properly.
“When you sit down and know that you are going to account to Allah for this wealth, you are going to answer for it, how do you get to that office and steal public funds? This is why you have a social disorder.
“We even have had state governors who said they were practising sharia, they were leading the implementation of sharia and they were stealing money and buying hotels.
“There was a governor implementing sharia in a sharia state who stole public funds and bought a hotel in Lagos. And he says Allahu Akbar.
