Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, Chief Missioner, Nasru-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), has called on Nigerians, irrespective of their religions or tribes, to live harmoniously to pave way for peace and development in the country.
Onike spoke at the virtual seminar organised by the Youths Wing of NASFAT in commemoration of 2020 International Youth Day tagged: “Youth Engagement for Global Action: Islam and Climate Change, Time to Act”.
The United Nations has set aside every Aug. 12 as the International Youth Day.
Onike said: “NASFAT leadership showed keen interest in this year’s theme of the IYD because, it blends perfectly with the HELD – Health, Education, Livelihood and Da’wah policy trust .
“This is due to the fact that, youths are a non-negligible critical mass in global development with a population of 1.8 billion (10-24 years age bracket youth).
“More often than not, we hear of human rights campaigns, whereas, there are environment rights as well.
“Our environment has rights on us because we are holding it in trust for Allah,” he said.
On corruption, the chief missioner said that corruption had appeared throughout the land and sea.
“Environmental corruption include: engaging in deforestation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and toxic wastes, and so on.
“Islam, as an environment friendly faith which has protection of environment as one its objectives, frown upon any form of abuse on the environment,” he said.
Onike said that with proper implementation of the principles outlined in the scripture on environmental protection and sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goal, SDG-13: Fighting Climate Change and its effect, could easily be achieved.
According to him, human beings as the vicegerent of God on earth are the custodian of nature.
Quoting scripturally, he said: “And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you.
“Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.
“The world is beautiful and verdant (green with grass or other rich vegetation), and verily God, be He exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.”
Commenting on Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, Onike said that such occurrence is an indication that we, as human beings, have been doing something wrong in terms of interaction with our environment.
The incident claimed 170 lives with about 5,000 people sustaining various injuries.