Kano — The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria has demanded a brand new constitution that would bequeath to the nation true federalism.
The Council's position came on the heel of proposed amendments exercise by the National Assembly on the 1999 constitution.
Secretary-General of the Council, Alhaji Lateef Adegbite, who spoke in Kano during the first Islamic Summit organised by a Zaria-based Muslim Research and Planning explained that it was long over due to jettison the 1999 constitution.
Adegbite said Nigeria required a constitution that is ethically based in view of its multi-religious status, stressing that such constitutional freedom would guarantee each faith a suitable style in line with their religious practices.
"We must have a system that is ethically based, and our problems in Nigeria is that we allowed a constitution that is evil based while the Muslims had allowed themselves to be westernised against the superior civilisation the religious book bequeath to them," he said.
Adegbite lamented that by accident of the existing order, Nigerian Muslims had been westernised to the detriment of superior civilisation bequeath to them by Quran, adding that immediate action should be employed to reverse the status quo.
"It's long over due for us to have an all encompassing constitution that will bequeath to the nation true federalism and guarantee constitutional freedom to Muslims," he said.
The Secretary-General explained that Nigerian Muslims should be given the right to operate a constitution that suits their religion in such states where they controlled absolute majority in the spirit of true federalism.
His speech that attracted loud ovation from the audience reinforced the legendary agitation by Nigerian Muslims for a separate constitution in the country as a panacea to true federalism in Nigeria.
The three-day summit under the chairmanship of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, will appraise the religion in the context of the merging challenges in the world.
In a goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar called on Muslims to unite in the interest of the religion and peaceful coexistence with others.
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In one instance he is parading as a statesman. In another, he is fermenting mischief. Guess who I am talking about. According to the article, "The three-day summit under the chairmanship of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida" the evil man of Nigeria. What a confused individual. Forget about Adegbite. He is only their message boy, a stooge who they will get rid of after being exploited.
The good thing is that they are coming out in the open while the whole world is watching, while the world is groaning under the burden of Islamic terrorism. I hope that now, Nigerians can understand the strategy of Major Gideon Okar and his colleagues of blessed memory (in the unsuccessful coup of 22.4.1990) . They wanted to give Muslims their promised land where they can practice their sharia without any disturbance. Where they can be as their Taliban brothers in Afghanistan or Pakistan without depending parasitically on the resources and hard work of Nigerians. That is what EXCISING them from Nigeria means, cut them off. Considering the corruption, looting, stealing, oppression, repression, domination and violence we have suffered on a massive scale in the hands of Muslims, who says that is not the best option for us. I think that any discussion that is not focussing on how to actualise this is a waste of time. So Local Muslims should not only have their own constitution, they should have their own separate state. Good riddance :-) excisionist(at)gmx.com
THE ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT COULD SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TOTAL COLLAPSE IS THAT WHICH WILL ALLOW SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH OF THE SIX GEO-POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
Nigerians should be wary of those who may wish to institute a Talliban Style or Iranian form of Theocracy on the Nigerian population. One often find that these ideologues are usually afraid of women. They see women as tools or beasts of burden, and would like nothing better than to use punitive laws to legitimize their official oppression of women.
In my view, the ONLY law of the land should be that drawn from the Federal Constitution. Sharia Laws or Customary Laws must not under any circumstances supercede the Laws of the Federal Constitution. But the interpretation of facets of either the Sharia Laws or the Customary Laws of the country must be based on the Nigerian Constitution, and not on any religious interpretations of either the Quoran or the Bible. We must endeavour to seperate Church and State. The rules of any religion must not guide the exercise of freedom of expression of any Nigerian citizen. Where possible, the government must begin to weigh in on the way most Northern States have attempted to use the Sharia as a means of oppression of free willing Nigerian citizens. It would not necessarily matter if the 1999 Constitution is to be modified. However, as long as the human rights of any Nigerian citizen is not impinged upon due to some ill-conceived interpretation of some religious doctrines, the Federal Constitution must be seen to protect the rights of all citizens.
I know that many would perhaps, write to differ their views based on the position I have taken in this commentary. But, I want it to be on record that I am personally against any measure that would deter any Nigerian from freely expressing himself or herself in any form, shape or fashion. Those who may seek to restrict others freedom must themselves, have theirs be taken. And those who may resort to violence against women must either hate themselves or are afraid that if a woman succeeded in her personal endeavors to make something of herself, such men's inadequacies would ultimately justify the reasons why women should succeed in all undertakings. So, free thinking Nigerians, beware of the Talliban style of theocracy if these zealots have their way.
adegbite is trying to steer problem in nigeria..while must he be agigating for a separate constitution for the muslim..i am a muslim as well but i believed in the federation of nigeria as an entity..muslim or no muslim nigerian constitution should be what it is now..plz
It is time Nigeria leaves the nonsense western judeo-christian-pagan constitution and each state creates a constitution that it relates to and that defines itself. 2 up for Adegbite, I am so sick and tired of colo-mentality system, and their rubbish constitution we follow and especially the crap system of ;demonCrazy, a system that can never allow Nigeria to progress. We need the best system of Government, Plato called it- Philosopher Kings method where we select intellectuals possibly Universities select professors and philosophers. then u will see the way Nigeria progresses. This rubbish system wont get us nowhere and if the rest Nigeria wont change, allow Muslims to determine their own destiny, jare! and stop colo-slaving.
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