The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has reaffirmed confidence in the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni as the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
MUSWEN stated this on Friday in a statement signed by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, President and Professor Wole Abbas, Executive Secretary, and made available in Abuja.
The statement came against the backdrop of announcements by some individuals and groups regarding the commencement date of the 2026 Ramadan fast.
The announcement was made in disregard for the established and recognised process of moon sighting under the leadership of the President of the NSCIA, to signal the commencement of the Ramadan fast.
Calling on Muslims in the South West, in particular and Nigeria, in general, to shun disunity, MUSWEN urged them to “be wary of the antics of people who do not wish Islam and Muslims well.”
“Their agenda and design for Muslims in Nigeria, and indeed the world over, is ‘divide and conquer’. We must not fall into this trap.”
MUSWEN added that the watchword for Muslims in this circumstance must be the Quranic verse which says:”And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves; and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren…Surah Al ‘Imran (3:103).”
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
