An advocacy group, under the banner of Aqsah Nigeria, has rallied support for the Palestinian cause, demanding justice over what it described as genocide perpetrated by the Israeli government.
The group marked the annual Aqsah Day under the Sapon bridge in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with participants calling for sustained global solidarity with the people of Palestine in the face of ongoing annihilation and humanitarian crises.
The gathering, which drew Muslim faithfuls and sympathisers, resonated with chants of “Free Palestine… from the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free.”
It was marked by speeches, lectures, and prayers for justice and peace in Gaza and other occupied territories.
In his keynote address, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Lukman Adefuye, a medical consultant and Chief Executive Officer of HOB Medical Centre, Abeokuta, lamented Israel’s persistent violation of international humanitarian laws.
“Israel is destroying hospitals, schools, and even disturbing the dead. This is an act against humanity, and that is why all people from all walks of life are condemning it including the Pope, activists, Christians, and human rights defenders,” Adefuye said.
He noted that more non-Muslims are joining the campaign for Palestine, citing Nigerian political figures such as Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri who have publicly expressed solidarity.
“What goes around comes around. The purpose of this gathering is to enlighten and advocate the need to stand with the oppressed, so that if it is our turn tomorrow, we too will be protected,” he added.
A highlight of the event was a public lecture delivered by Dr. Musodiq Fadeyi, a medical doctor and NGO expert, titled: “The Future of Gaza in the Face of World Politics.”
Dr. Fadeyi argued that Gaza represents more than just a geographic territory but also the conscience of the world.
“When we speak of Gaza, we do not speak of geography alone. We speak of history. We speak of humanity. And we speak of the conscience of the world,” he said.
Tracing Gaza’s troubled past, he recalled how the strip, with just 365 square kilometers and home to over two million people, became a land of displacement after the 1948 Nakba and fell under Israeli occupation after the 1967 Six-Day War.
Dr. Fadeyi described the region today as “both a home and a prison, both a battlefield and a symbol.”
He highlighted how Gaza’s fate has been shaped not only by its people but also by regional and global powers.
“For Israel, Gaza is seen through the lens of security and resistance. For Egypt, it is both a neighbour and a burden. For the wider Arab world, it is a rallying cry often divided by national interests. For Iran and Turkey, Gaza becomes a stage to project influence. Meanwhile, the U.S., Europe, Russia, China, and the United Nations all view Gaza through lenses of power, diplomacy, and geopolitics,” he explained.
He further described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as catastrophic with families surviving on limited electricity, hospitals under pressure, soaring unemployment, and children growing up under the shadow of war.
“This is not merely a humanitarian crisis. It is a human crisis. And if politics forgets the people, then politics itself has failed,” Fadeyi stressed.
The guest speaker outlined several possible scenarios for Gaza’s future, ranging from the continuation of the status quo of blockades and wars, to the dream of a two-state solution, to the risk of further displacement and fragmentation.
He urged global leaders to choose justice over convenience and humanity over geopolitics.
“Gaza’s future is not only a test of Middle Eastern politics; it is a test of world politics. More than that—it is a test of our moral politics,” Fadeyi declared.
The event concluded with renewed calls for advocacy, prayer, and international solidarity.
According to the organisers, the annual Aqsah Day serves as both a platform for enlightenment and a reminder of the moral obligation to stand with the oppressed.
No comments:
Post a Comment