Ramadan 2018: Shun corruption!

President Muhammadu Buhari, this week, sent his greeting and best wishes to Muslims in the country and across the world as they commence the Ramadan fast on Wednesday.
The President said that fasting is not just merely meant to stay hungry or thirsty, but an opportunity for Muslims to purify their intention and actions and show mercy, love and compassion to others.
Essentially, fasting, the President said, is meant to inculcate in Muslims righteousness and discipline, in their personal and collective conducts. The President enjoined fasting Muslims to increase their love for humanity, acts of charity, kindness, generousity and gratitude to their Creator.
And, it needs not be said, the period of fasting offers Muslims the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God, enables those with means to share food with the poor, needy and less-priviledged.
Fasting period is an opportunity for Muslims to rededicate themselves to the teachings of the faith and the cause of mankind. It is a period for sober reflection on inter-relationship between man and his neighbor, on the one hand, and God, on the other.
The aim of fasting, partly, therefore, is to foster charity, brotherly love, compassion and rewarding relationship with God.
Of course, there has never been a greater need for sharing with less-priviledged and the needy than now when millions of our people can hardly make ends meet mainly due to the tough economic conditions.
Similarly, there has never been greater time than now to show love for one another when hatred became sown in hearts of Nigerians and taking of life of humans became the practice, rather than exception.
Thus, by paying attention to the values of love, patience and brotherliness, we will invariably make the welfare of our neighbour as important as ours. By inviting others to partake of our material possessions, we will honour God who gave us wealth. And by loving one another and living in peace, we will give meaning to our faith.
Of course, leaders have plenty to take from lessons of Ramadan fasting. They can do so first, by paying attention to the plights of the masses and shun their materialistic tendencies. They should shun corruption, which Islam and other religions abhor in all its ramifications, and vow to never return to their dirty ways and lifestyle.
If they do so, Nigeria will be a better place for all to live and realise our individual and collective potentials, which we have in abundance, as individuals and nation.
In essence, like the President observes, it is incumbent on Nigerians, especially leaders, to help men and women who are less-fortunate than themselves and help the government in confronting the challenges facing the nation.