Dutse, Jigawa State, northern Nigeria — As the war against Iraq by the United States and its allies gains momentum in the Gulf, many Africans appear to support the African Union's position that the United Nations should have been allowed to handle the problem. There have been street protests in several parts of Africa since the fighting began.
In Northern Nigeria, which is overwhelmingly Muslim, there is deep anger at America's move against Iraq. Many ordinary folk feel strongly that a brother Muslim, President Saddam Hussein, has been wronged, even if he himself may have done wrong. On the walls of traditional mud dwellings and in public places in major cities, posters of the Iraqi leader jostle for position with images of Osama bin Laden, as well as Nigeria s political leaders, who are campaigning for re-election next month.
The Emir of Dutse, capital of Jigawa State, is Alhaji Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi. On the issue of the attack on Iraq, he granted an interview in Hausa and English to Bilkisu Labaran Ohyoma and Mannir Dan-Ali of the BBC and to AllAfrica's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton.
Your Royal Highness, what is your reaction to the attack on Iraq by America?
I am very sad. I feel sad. This situation shouldn't have degenerated to this stage. The United Nations as a body has been totally disregarded by the powers of the West. And I feel this is not a good omen for the future of the United Nations. It is not a good omen for the future of our relationship between the West and the East. And it's not a good omen for the relationship between our developing countries and the developed countries.
You have spoken about a problem in relationships between various regions of the world - especially between the West and the developing world. Is all this about religion?
Of course, even if anybody says that this has nothing to do with religion, you cannot separate what is happening from religion. There is no way you can totally dissociate the attack on Iraq from religion. Why? Because the great majority of the Iraqis are Muslims and because of what is happening in Palestine - America has failed even to address the issue. Britain has failed to address the issue, and yet they are killing hundreds and hundreds of people every day - through their smart bombs and through whatever. Yet, no one is talking about Palestine. How do you justify this?
But some Muslim countries, some Arab countries, are in support of this action against President Saddam Hussein.
Tell me which countries.
Kuwait, for instance.
Kuwait has already had a problem with Saddam Hussein. They fought a war with Iraq 11 years ago and definitely I don't blame them. But what of Saudi Arabia, what of Jordan, what of Turkey, what of Iran? They are all neighbours. Do they complain? They haven't.
So, what do you think is likely to happen now that Washington has attacked Baghdad? What do you think the reaction might be in Nigeria, and particularly in the predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria?
Our reaction here in northern Nigeria will be only that we should pray to God, that God should disgrace those who are responsible for the killings of innocent people, because definitely civilian lives will be lost in this adventure. And certainly they will be responsible for what happens, because definitely they cannot absolve themselves from the crime that this war will bring.
Is it of concern to you that President Saddam Hussein might have weapons of mass destruction?
It is of concern to everyone. I don't want anybody - even Saddam Hussein as a Muslim - to own any weapon that will destroy the lives of people. And yet, when you talk of it, there are so many weapons everywhere in this world. Even America has these kinds of weapons. The only thing is that we believe that they will not use them. But if you have crazy people at the helm of affairs in any of these countries, they can use them.
So, to me, what I would advise our people in the north is to be patient, to pray to God that God should do what is best for the people of Iraq and the Muslim Ummah (community).
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What about to President George W. Bush? What advice would you have for him and his allies?
We have advised him and he didn't take advice. He refused to listen. The United Nations was doing its best to get this thing sorted out. France, Germany and other reasonable countries were trying to find a solution, so that Saddam Hussein could be dislodged permanently.
But the Americans and their allies are in a hurry. So, we don't know, because President Bush has said that this war may take a longer time. And the longer this war takes, the more casualties will be involved. Children will be orphaned and women widowed. And this will generate more anger among Muslims in the world.
Do you see President Bush as the problem?
He is the problem, no doubt! The Republican Party is the problem.
Interview Part 2: A Traditional Ruler Speaks Out on Nigerian Elections and Education for Girls
