NSCIA reiterates commitment to Nigeria’s peace, unity

•Says attacks on Islam, Muslims must stop

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar,has again reiterated its commitment to peace and unity in Nigeria, even as the apex Islamic body in the country declared that attacks on Islam and Muslims must stop.

The Council noted that its commitment to peace and unity necessitated silence and restraint despite unwarranted provocation, assault, and baseless profiling of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria, declaring that, “It should be clear that restraint is not cowardice. But there is always a limit to endurance.”

According the a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Council, Abbas Jimoh, the NSCIA asserted that that, “While it is obvious that Muslims are being marginalised in the public space in Nigeria, it is a paradox that there are still individuals bereft of conscience who still persistently accuse the obviously deprived Muslims of oppression and persecution simply because certain foreign interests in search of deceiving their evangelical support base are using that ploy to create confusion, incite unrest, penetrate and possibly dismember Nigeria.

“Some bizarre and disparaging statements by an extremist former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the promptings of a news anchor during a recent Channels Television programme that looked more like a well-rehearsed drama than an interview are not only reckless, baseless but also irresponsible.

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“The programme ought to have attracted at least a reprimand from appropriate government agencies in the interest of peace and national security.

“The media and the security/regulatory agencies pretend that such opinions are not capable of provoking retaliatory statements or actions with a potential threat to the nation. If any Muslim leader has made such statements, he would have been a guest of the police and other security agencies.

“Some Christian leaders even allege that the Fulani, a euphemism for Muslims, are responsible for the recent unfortunate kidnap in Oyo State. Contrary to their wicked speculations, the names of the arrested persons in Ibadan suggested otherwise.

“Furthermore, the person recently arrested in connection with the unfortunate kidnap and murder at Oriire Local Government (Area) of Oyo State is not only a Christian but also a pastor.

“This stark revelation made one of the Christian-owned media, Arise Television, to hypocritically dismiss the incident as not representative of any religion! If the suspect has been a Muslim, the opposite would have been canvassed.”

The Council submitted that the gruesome assassination of Benue State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Mallam Yakubu Isah, at Okwudu Village in Otukpo Local Government Area, few kilometers away from Ohimini Local Government Area, after a peace meeting, was also part of systematic attack to provoke Muslims who would in turn be tagged as aggressors.

While alleging marginalisation of Muslims from Southern part of the country in ministerial appointment, the NSCIA noted that, “Despite the fact that most ministers from the South are non-Muslims, when any of the few Muslims exits office, he or she is replaced by a non-Muslim.

“Mr Adebayo Adelabu is a case in point. Muslims keep their cool; yet they are being accused of persecuting others.

“When General Yakubu Gowon made Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Federal Commissioner for Finance and the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, no one raised a noise on the Christian-Christian bearings.

Also, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo during their presidential bids had Christian vice-presidential candidates. No Muslim ever mentioned or raised the alarm accusing them of Christian-Christian tickets, a pseudonym that is now being used to blackmail and traumatize the Muslims.”

The apex Islamic body in the country then submitted that, “While the NSCIA continues to appeal to Muslims for continuous restraint, it is imperative that government and security agencies should act decisively before the Muslims run out of patience in the light of persistent attacks and unbridled marginalisation.”

The NSCIA then called on government to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes in Kaduna, where an Islamic teacher, Ummulkhair, was set ablaze over allegation of child kidnap, which later turned to be false, and Benue are brought to justice without delay and according to the laws of the land.

According to the Council, “Anything short of this is an invitation to anarchy.

“The Nigerian Police Force whose DPOs are said to have handed over a female Muslim scholar for roasting, as well as the one who invited the murdered MACBAN Chairman should be thoroughly investigated and transparently brought to justice.”

Furthermore, the NSCIA declared that barrage of open assaults on the integrity of Islam and Muslims in public spaces should be checked in the interest of peace and order, adding that, “Enough is enough.”