23/02/2025
A call to our beloved leaders.
Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh....
As the 2025 Regional and Local Election campaign draws near, you stand at the threshold of history, poised to shape the destiny of our people. If Allah (SWT) grants you the honor of leadership, let your platform be more than just promises—let it be a solemn vow to uphold justice, integrity, and the very soul of this nation.
Above all, I implore you to strengthen your ibadah (worship) to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, for a leader who fears Allah will never succumb to corruption or injustice. Such a leader understands that their accountability extends beyond the people who placed them in power—it reaches the Almighty, who sees all, knows all, and will judge all.
Let Moral Governance be your foundation—not just in words, but enshrined in law. If government officials stray from this path, let there be just consequences, for leadership is not a privilege but a sacred responsibility.
The tyranny of Political Dynasties must end. True governance belongs to the people, not to a chosen few who pass power among themselves like an heirloom. Shared Governance must be championed, ensuring that leadership is diverse, inclusive, and rooted in service.
The Government-M**F Peace Agreement must not be left to gather dust in bureaucratic neglect. The normalization process must be swift and sincere, fulfilling the promises of peace that so many have fought and bled for.
Our MNLF and M**F Mujahideen brothers deserve a future beyond the battlefield. The National Amnesty Program must be revived, granting them the dignity of normal lives and the opportunity to be active participants in democracy, not perpetual remnants of war.
More importantly, the plight of M**F political prisoners must not be ignored. Justice delayed is justice denied. These individuals, who have long been caught in the crossfire of conflict and governance, deserve speedy trials and a fair chance at amnesty. If true peace is to be achieved, then justice must be served not just on paper, but in the very fabric of our legal system.
Government must not be a distant force—it must be a living, breathing servant of the people. Civilian protection must be at the heart of all projects, ensuring that no policy, no program, no decision violates the fundamental rights of our people.
Let development be a right, not a privilege. Inclusivity must be the standard, ensuring a fair share in the dividends of peace—not just for the powerful, but for the farmers, the workers, the unseen and unheard. Development must begin where it is needed most—among the rural poor, where the seeds of progress must be planted and nurtured.
Our environment is a gift, not a resource to be plundered. We have laws to protect it, but laws mean nothing without strict enforcement and unwavering vigilance. Let those entrusted with its protection be held accountable, for the destruction of nature is the destruction of our future.
And finally, let the cycle of clan conflict and bloodshed end. Justice must reign, and the rule of law must be absolute. The long-term solution lies in transitional justice and reconciliation, where old wounds are healed, and a future of unity is forged.
If you stand for these principles—if you truly embody them, not just as campaign rhetoric but as a lifelong commitment—then you will have my vote. More than that, I will stand with you, campaign for you, and champion your cause.
May you lead with wisdom. May you govern with justice. And may you serve with the unwavering resolve to uplift the people you swear to protect.
Good luck, and may Allah guide you.
Wabillahi taufic wal Hidaya.
Abdulbasit R. Benito
Ordinary Bangsamoro
