The committee of FCT imams initiative (CFII) has asked the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to pay religious leaders to help fight insecurity in the country.
Speaking at the 17th extraordinary dawrah (conference) of the FCT Imams on Saturday, chairman of CFII, Tajudeen Adigun, said Imams and other religious leaders should be included in the fight against insecurity.
Adigun who spoke on the theme: ‘Unity of Imams as a Forte to the Ummah and Secured Nation’, stated that religious leaders won’t be asking for too much if the government decides to pay them salaries to maintain peace.
According to the CFII chairman, people listen to religious leaders more than politicians.
Adigun said: “The reality is that people have belief and listen to their imams much more than the politicians.
“This is not to underrate the position of politicians, because Allah has handed over power to them.
“However, politicians should not underrate the influence of imams. If government decides to pay salaries to religious leaders so as to maintain peace, it is not too much.
“When I say religious leaders, I mean generally including the non-Muslim religious leaders, because all religions have influence over their followers.
“In FCT, I can tell you we have so many examples of calamities that when 75 percent of the imams deliver uniform Friday sermons, it will calm the situation.”
The Imam also urged Imams to play a role in the fight against insecurity even if the government refuses to recognize them.
