​Time is the ultimate, universal currency of the world, and how we choose to measure its passage defines the very legacy we leave behind. This week, the global Islamic Ummah ushers in the New Hijri Year 1448, and we are reminded of the most profound chronological milestone in human history. The Hijrah is not merely the turning of a lunar calendar; it is a timeless, as well, intellectual metaphor for human elevation. It represents the conscious and deliberate migration from a state of stagnation, systemic persecution, and moral decay into an era of enlightenment, justice, and structured progress.
 
​Principally, the Hijrah of our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Makkah to Madinah was an arduous journey paved with immense personal and collective sacrifices. It required courageous men and women, young and old, to abandon their homes, their wealth, and the comfort of the familiar and ancestral homes, stepping boldly into the harsh desert of uncertainty for the sake of a greater, unshakeable truth. Yet, out of that monumental sacrifice blossomed a beautiful, thriving civilisation. The bitter struggles of that migration ultimately birthed a society built on brotherhood, equity, and the collective good.
 
​When we critically examine our present reality in Oyo State and across the broader Nigerian landscape or even the world, it becomes undeniably clear that we are in desperate need of our own collective Hijrah. We are currently navigating a turbulent socio-economic desert, attempting to migrate from the oppressive realities of economic hardship occasioned by decision and indecision of the past, infrastructural decay, and lackluster governance toward the oasis of a "Realistic Tomorrow." Just like the original Hijrah, this modern journey is demanding heavy, daily sacrifices from the ordinary masses. The biting economic reforms and the demanding socio-political realignments we are currently enduring are the steep prices we must pay today to birth a flourishing, industrialised, and permanently secure state for our children and grandchildren.
 
​Therefore, every citizen, leader, and political stakeholder must deeply and intentionally imbibe the spirit of the Hijrah. We must possess the absolute courage to migrate away from the toxic politics of division, ethnic polarisation, and short-term gratification. True developmental growth requires that we endure the temporary discomforts of structural reform and remain steadfast in our pursuit of excellent governance. To fellow progressives, we must be willing to sacrifice our personal comforts and individual political ambitions to build a united and impenetrable front which ensures that our political migration leads us successfully to the promised land of institutional redemption and victory.
 
​This is, indeed, a sacred month, and I extend my most heartfelt felicitations to every Muslim faithful in Oyo State, Nigeria, and around the world. May the dawn of the New Year 1448H bring profound healing, renewed hope, and abundant divine blessings to your respective households. May the Almighty Allah graciously accept our collective sacrifices, grant us the resilience to complete our journey, and cause our dear state to prosper in unending peace and prosperity. Happy Hijrah 1448 to you all, and may our lives continuously migrate toward absolute greatness.
 
~ Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK)
Former Oyo State Governorship Aspirant
APC… PROGRESS!
AKK! Aseyori ni tiwa
AKK!! Ajọṣe, Ajoje
AKK!!! A Task That Must Be Done.
Sunday, June 21 2026.