From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Minister of Defence, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, has called on Islamic scholars in Nigeria to use the period of Ramadan and pray for unity, peace, and security in Nigeria.
He said the security of lives and property has improved across the country and assured that with the help of AlmightyAllah, it would be better.
Badaru spoke on Tuesday at the Pre-Ramadan meeting in Kaduna, organized by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), which also had in attendance former Zamfara State Deputy Governor Ibrahim Wakala, House Representatives Member from Zamfara, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, Islamic Scholars, Imams, and Ulamas from across Nigeria.
According to the Minister,” My message to Ramadan preachers is for them to pray for Nigerians, pray for the country for peace and prosperity, and indeed the Ulama are the best at this. They should also pray for the leaders and Allah’s guidance and support.”
“You have seen that the security is improving and it is only Allah that can give assurance, but I will tell you, we will do our best to make sure people are secured,” he added.
Meanwhile, Muslim scholars under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) have appealed to the Federal Government to cushion the impact of economic hardship on the citizens, alleging that the socioeconomic hardship in the country was becoming unbearable.
Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, President of the SCSN, who appealed during the annual Pre-Ramadan meeting, said that the socioeconomic hardship in the country was becoming unbearable and urged that a solution should be proffered without further delay.
Sheikh Hadiyyatullah said the economic hardship was being exacerbated by some government policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies, which led to soaring costs of living, with food, transportation, and essential goods becoming increasingly unaffordable.
“The depreciation of the Naira, high inflation, and stagnant wages have further eroded purchasing power. The Council has consistently advised the administration on adopting policies to address the hardship.
” However, it is alarming that, within a short period, the government has introduced multiple new taxes and tariffs, including increased telecommunications tariffs (50%), FOB charges (4% of imports), NPA tariffs (15%), ATM charges (100%), and additional proposed electricity tariff hikes”.
“The Council remains steadfast in advocating for the easing of the draconian policies to protect the interests of the poor,” he said.
“For over two decades, the Council has played a pivotal role in efforts towards addressing insecurity and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria. In the last year, it has engaged major security stakeholders in the nation, in the security and intelligence community, and other strategic actors. These engagements contributed to the formulation and implementation of a one-year non-kinetic strategy to address insecurity, especially banditry.”
“However, despite some progress, the Council is deeply concerned by recent developments, especially revelations on government-owned weapons falling into criminal hands and the Auditor-General’s report to the Senate on the disappearance of 3,907 rifles from the police armory, with no consequences. These developments require urgent and decisive action by the government”.
“The Supreme Council for Shari’ah has been a longstanding partner in the progress and development of our nation. For over two decades, the Council has actively contributed to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development, with the unity of the Ummah as the cornerstone of our efforts. “
“As a religious body, one of SCSN’s core objectives is the realization of a prosperous Ummah and a country that is economically, socially, educationally, and politically viable.
Despite the formidable challenges facing our nation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to contributing to its success,” he said.
We are politically marginalized over Muslim-Muslim ticket
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah Council in Nigeria ( SCSN) also expressed regrets over the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the Presidency since the 2023 presidential election that brought in President Bola Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, both of them of the Islamic faith.
The Council noted that despite the general belief that the ticket would favor the Muslim community more, the reverse was the case, as millions of Muslims were allegedly politically marginalized under the current administration.
“We have seen Nigerians vote for people of the same Islamic faith into the Presidency without turning
the country into an unceasing battlefield, but we have not seen justice and equity done to all communities, irrespective of their faith. Millions of Muslims are politically marginalized in many
parts of the country, despite their numbers and the constitutional demands for justice, and we see
a nation growing in indifference over Muslim grievances.”
“As we speak, we are witnessing an alarming and crude attempt to muscle South West Muslims out of their rights to organize legitimate mechanisms that will assist them to improve how they live with fellow Christians as members of families and communities.”
“A fair assessment of the journey so far will recognize that we succeeded in achieving some of our goals, and have failed to achieve others. We have demonstrated the power of faith in our search for good leaders, although we are yet to see this reflected as much as we had hoped in the form of improved levels of integrity at all levels; a fairer economic system that rewards hard work and protects the poor from increasing pauperization; and a safer environment where the life and property of
the citizens are protected as is demanded by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and our Constitution.”
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the South West and we advise those who think they can divide the Nigerian Muslim Umma to find other
mischief to engage themselves.
The Umma look up to us for guidance and assurances that their faith will not be sacrificed on the altar of political opportunism and greed. Many Muslims are being encouraged to think they have
been betrayed to vote for this administration.
“It is our task to assure them that our intentions and goals were honest and products of deep faith and fear of the punishment of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.”
“We must demonstrate beyond all doubt that no understanding exists between us and this or any administration that injustice, indifference, and insensitivity to avoidable hardship will be tolerated.
We must live above board, elevating the intrinsic value of Islam to the point that it makes the difference between good and bad leaders; between an informed citizenry and a gullible population;
between a clergy that serves and fears only Allah, and one which serves leaders of the day.”
“We must remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for the Muslim and the non-Muslim because this is our
basic responsibility and the only basis for peace in our country. As we prepare for the Holy Month of Ramadan, let us be reminded of its most profound values, and respect them.
” The unity of the Umma should not be sacrificed, and, as we are aware, the disunity of the Umma is most threatened when the Ulama become agents of division and friction between
Muslims. As Muslims, we are facing cynical attempts to distance us from each other, to weaken us further.
“We have survived many of these attempts, but more will be made. We can create a solid and united Nigerian Muslim community, but we must resist threats from partisan politics,
corruption, and the weaknesses of our political processes.
“We should remain alert, admit genuine mistakes, and correct them. Insisting that the Muslim community in Nigeria has a right and a duty to organize itself and compete for its interests, however, is not, and cannot be a mistake.
“We shall closely watch all elements of the political processes, and we will stand for what we believe is in the
best interests of all Nigerian Muslims. To be effective in doing this, every Muslim who has or wishes to take responsibility or obligation to influence the decisions of Muslims must be pre-eminently knowledgeable, honest, and courageous enough to put these values at the disposal of the Ummah”. He said.
