By Jubril Bada
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Nigerians must stop the blame game with a view to correcting the inadequacies in our socio-economic and political structure if the country is to witness remarkable turnaround.

The Mufaseer of Akure, Sheikh Mashood Kewuyemi gave the advice while speaking at a special prayer session and public lecture for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections stated this in Akure.

Sheikh Kewuyemi, stressed that Nigeria is not only blessed with intelligent, enterprising and adventurous citizens but equally lucky to be endowed with abundant natural resources.

He added that the  potentials are yet to translate to the much needed breakthrough because of sheer greed, nepotism, religious bigotry, endemic corruption and dearth of patriotic zeal.

The cleric, therefore, prescribed piety, persistent optimism, renewed patriotic zeal and unbiased fight against corruption as the essential ingredients that the Nigerian society must have in its kit in order to regain its past glory.

He warned the electorate against cursing their leaders, saying seeking divine intervention for them is more desirable. He said that people are blessed with the type of leadership they truly deserve in view of their disposition to the nation’s collective destiny.

He summed up his admonition with a quotation from the Holy Quran that Allah will never change the fate of a people for better until the individuals are ready to turn a new leaf.

Earlier, the Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Yayi -Akorede said the post election violence of 1983 in the old Ondo state as well as the antecedents of struggles for political power has made it imperative for the muslim community to seek the face of Allah for a free and fair 2019 election.

The Chief Imam, who recalled that similar prayer session was held prior to the 2015 poll urged gladiators to be wary of desperation as only Allah gives or takes power from people at will.

Speaking to newsmen at the event, the immediate past governor of Ondo state and a Senatorial candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko said the occasion represented the growing political awareness among the populace while submitting that the electorate is now at an advantage position more than ever before to determine the course of the country’s journey in the year’s ahead by ensuring that only tested and trusted leaders are elected into office.

He equally took a swipe at people who are in the habit of selling their votes saying doing so cannot augur well for the present population and coming generations .

The All Progressives Congress (APC)  candidate for Ondo State House of Assembly, Akure Constituency 1,Mr. Toluwani Borokini noted that religious and ethnic segregation used to be one of the pitfalls in the country’s political system but the coming together of people of different political and sectarian inclinations demonstrated the readiness of the people to rise above parochial sentiments when it comes to taking decisions on national issues.