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Ribadu And EFCC Blessing In Disguise For Our Country By Babandi Gumel As the EFCC in Nigeria has stepped up its campaign to rid the Country of corrupt officials the Nation is divided into two those who support the campaign mainly Nigerian commoners who do not possess much and the culprits who amass the wealth unlawfully and trying by all means to defend their evil pursuit at all cost. This is why you find sometimes those who accuse the EFCC accuse it of being selective in meting justice to individuals whether correct or not depending on ones opinion. However whatever a person says there is no moral justification for the kind of corruption we see spreading in our society. Although we accuse the military as being dictatorial but unfortunately the civilians misuse the freedom to enrich themselves unnecessarily. Public officials unfortunately have made public treasury as their own personal purse whereby they can withdraw money and spend it anyhow they wish and no body would dare say anything. The coming of Ribadu and his EFCC is one of the best things that ever happened to our Nation chasing all corrupt officials some forcing them to go into hiding while others don’t know what to do with their unlawful plunder which they acquired unlawfully. Although they say truth is bitter but in the end is sweet if you follow it eventually. As every one knows corruption and acquiring illegal wealth known as Haram is unlawful religiously and morally one loses respect. Probably at the beginning of acquiring such wealth one may enjoy but it is only the devil that incites people to acquire such wealth unlawfully which would sooner or later become a source of regret for the person doing so. Let us look at what Allah says in the Quran.” O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the Earth and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo he is an open enemy for you. So this is general admonition to the whole human beings Muslims and Non-Muslim to avoid any unlawful thing. Now talking specifically to our Muslim brothers and sisters every one knows what is called Haram but most of our brothers and sisters they only take the word itself literally only to avoid consuming Haram such as eating pork alcohol or gambling which Islam has totally forbidden. However unfortunately they engage in unlawful earnings especially when somebody gets an official title, he/she uses that title to deceive the public misusing the position of authority to become crook and steal from public money which is so unfortunate. As the people are helpless can not do anything even though our Prophet (S.A.W) has clearly said in Hadith if anyone of you sees something wrong he must change it with the use of his hands if he cannot then he should speak otherwise the least he can do is to feel it in his heart and this is the weakest degree of one’s faith. Unfortunately most people they don’t have even that least degree of faith and not to talk of stopping it. Therefore what Ribadu and his Commission are doing is a favour to our Society and the Religion in general whether Islam, Christianity or any other follower of any Religion for that matter. As we all know the Religion is meant to guide mankind to the path of morality especially Islam has taught us practically the path of rectitude on how to behave in private and public. The coming of Sharia has even strengthened our resolve that people are going to be disciplined but as the saying goes charity begins at home every one expects the leaders of Sharia to show best example. But from the report we have been getting seeing and hearing and confirming is very unfortunate and do make pathetic reading. How can we progress if we are not sincere as we are morally corrupt following the footsteps of devil and have closed our eyes and saying is OK how can it be OK while we know it is really not OK. To cheat and steal public money we think is ok, well when you are caught then you will realise that is not then ok .So therefore the emergence of Ribadu and his Commission as I said is a blessing in disguise for both our Worldly and spiritual progress. Anybody who has got conscience and is sincere should welcome the effort being made by the Commission to curb the excesses of the so called public officials who are entrusted with a trust called Amana and they decided to temper with this Amana this is why its haunting them who so does good an atom weight will see it and who so does ill an atoms weight will see it although it is on the Day of Judgement as Allah has mentioned but this is the consequence of our evil deeds even in this world.. So as Muslims especially the Sharia followers should not make mockery of the Laws of Allah we must impose it strictly on ourselves by living exemplary life of abstinence not the kind of flamboyant life style we are seeing and no body has got the courage to tell our leaders so at least the EFCC is not scared of such evil crooks who unfortunately are shaming our society. In the end I wish to remind our Muslim brothers and sisters especially those holding public offices to fear Allah as they will give account of every single penny they misuse. So don’t think even if the EFFC has not caught you red-handed the Recording Angels known as Kiraman Katibeen record everything what we do. Remember you will one day give account of everything so therefore once more the EFCC’s effort should be strengthened rather than discouraging them as they are doing their job even though some may regard it as selective justice whatever. Notwithstanding Malam Ribadu should take note and accept any criticism so long people they do it constructively with the intention to improve the process. Late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa initiated the campaign against corruption nearly sixty years ago in the Parliament before Independence, and General Murtala Muhammed became prominent in that direction during his short sojourn as a Military leader in our Country and finally Buhari and Idiagbon waged the campaign popularly known as War against Indiscipline known as WAI in 1984.So therefore waging war against corruption is not new as Ribadu and his EFCC are doing let us give them benefit of doubt cooperate with them so as to achieve the desired result .As long you are clean there is nothing to fear as the Prophet said when somebody came to ask him about Birr Righteousness. He answered ask your heart anything you want people to know is good but anything you hide is evil so therefore we must all be sincere especially in the Month of Ramadan meant to make us God-conscious. It is important to renew our intention by being more sincere and taking what is good of our lawful income and avoids all kinds of Haram stuff which will not bring us good in this World and the Hereafter.” O You who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you and render thanks to Allah if it is indeed He whom you worship. Therefore earning lawful things is a kind of giving thanks or making Shukr to the Creator and the more one makes Shukr the more Allah will increase His favour on him otherwise his punishment is severe especially the leaders whom Allah has given the mantle of leadership they should make more Shukr rather than being ungrateful. They should try to serve the public and help the poor to the best of their ability instead of competing to make money and plunder the public treasury which is so appalling very distasteful. They should be aware of Allah and meeting their death otherwise if they have forgotten all these the EFCC is still around ready to pounce and after death they will be brought back to the knower of the Unseen and Visible who would tell them what they used to do. So let turn to Allah by sincerely repenting in this Month so that He can shower His Mercy on us. May Allah give us Taufiq to obey Him all the time and live according to the commandments of Allah and the teaching of our beloved Prophet (S.A.W).
Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen.
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