Kano — A sex education conference organized by the John Hopkins/USAID is threatening the fragile peace of Kano as Muslims in the state acting under the aegis of Council of Ulama have vowed to stop the event.

They have asked the Kano State government to stop the conference immediately and also ban all Non-Governmental Organizations operating in the state which act contrary to Islamic injunctions .

Spokesman of the Council of Ulama, Barrister Muzzamnil Sani Hanga who addressed newsmen ahead of today's Sex Education Conference slated for the ancient city by the John Hopkins/USAID said the council "totally condemns the conference because, it contradicts the teachings of Islam."

Hanga said the Muslim community in the state had resolved not to "engage in any discussion with any of the NGOs" because, according to him "enough is enough."

According to the Islamic leader: "The Muslim community is tired of this nonsense by these NGOs who come under the guise of improving the lives and living conditions of our people. What they should do is to first of all improve on the lives of their home countries before coming here." He said that even though the Council is not against "genuine and good intentions of any given NGO, we will resist all attempts by any NGO to ridicule our religion.

The Council of Ulama, Barrister Hanga further pointed out, viewed with displeasure, activities of some NGOs which he alleged "deliberately engage in acts contrary to the teachings of Islam thereby eroding our culture as a people.

By this resolve, the Islamic leader declared that: "The Kano State government must act now and stop this conference without delay and also ban activities of all NGOs in the state" adding that "Kano has adopted Islamic law and any activity that is intended to ridicule this should be resisted by all peace loving Muslims."

Hanga charged Muslims in the state to "rise up now because this is a war. It is an earnest battle and all Muslims must stand up to uproot all NGOs in the state. This is the beginning of our war with all these NGOs until they see reason."

Kano State Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Alhaji Nura Muhammad Dankadai in his reaction to the demand of the Islamic leaders called for caution, saying however that government "would not entertain anything that will contradict the issue of Sharia," but added, "it all depends on how government feels."

Although the commissioner was not forthcoming on what decision government would take in response to the position of the Ulamas, he said "government would carefully look at the request when presented to it."

Dankadai however assured that the state government is firm in its resolve to ensure the security of lives and property.

The one-day conference on sex-education by the John Hopkins/USAID is targeted at youths between the ages of 15 and 18 on the consequences of casual sex and the need to imbibe the culture of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Efforts to get the organizers of the conference proved abortive as none of the principal officers in the Kano field office of the organization was ready to comment.

At the Kano State Police Command, a senior police officer who volunteered to speak with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity since he claimed he is not competent to speak to the press allayed fears, saying that the command would do all within its powers to ensure that no one is molested by any group or individual.