25 Feb 2006 |
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When I read about the senseless orgy of violence that engulfed northern Nigeria last week, I was at once angry, then sad, then angry again. The Nigerian masses have again behaved true to type, fighting over a cause that won’t put food on the table for them. Why kill Nigerian Christians for crimes committed by non-Christian secularists in Western Europe? It just doesn’t make sense! One of the reasons why I keep accusing Nigerian leaders of bad faith is because of their glaring inability to manage anything - be it a crisis or the economy. But, in this particular case, the blame lies squarely with northern Nigerian leadership. As they have done in the past, they have demonstrated a lack of leadership and a lack of understanding of the political philosophy of the late patriarch of northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Using the one north, one destiny motto, Sardaunan Sokoto brought everyone together, he used what we have in common as against what divides us. It was under his leadership that the majority of the north central region (now referred to as middle belt by some) was recruited into the army where they later went on to hold enviable commands. He never thought they were different from the rest of the Muslim Hausa/Fulani population. When the cartoon protest started in Nigeria, I was a little apprehensive. Not that I feared for my family (they are safe in Minna and Ilorin respectively) but my fear is mostly for other millions of Nigerians, who are considered "other", different, not one of us, even though they are bonafide Nigerians! As a Muslim, I reject emphatically and abhor all these senseless acts of murder in the name of religion. Where are all these people when all the thirty six governors including Mr. President himself were busy looting the treasury? Why wouldn’t these groups of rioters protest the non payment of a reasonable salary to teachers in order to ensure their children’s tomorrow? What an irony, the Nigerian people plagued by acute under development, hunger, poverty and disease have added ignorance to the list. A couple of years ago in Jos, Plateau state, it was alleged that the excesses of our people and age long deep seated animosity between us and the indigenous non Muslim people spiraled into what later became the worst inter ethnic fighting in northern Nigeria after Zango Kataf. It is the near absence of a veritable northern leadership that cost the life of someone I can rightly call my godfather, Alhaji Muhammad Zaidu, he was the late father of my very dear friend, Rayyanu M. Zaidu. During my corp’s year in Jos long before the crisis, he loved and took care of me as he would his own son. When the Jos riots broke out, the beroms descended on his estate in bukuru, they not only vandalized his properties, they also killed him. The irony here is that because we have refused to provide leadership, good people like Alhaji Muhammad Zaidu have suffered and lost their lives in the process. In this piece, I won’t worry too much about Pres. Obasanjo and his government. The verdict is in; they are not only corrupt but also acutely ineffective. The biggest part of my grouse is with the supposed northern leadership led by Chief Sunday Awoniyi. Isn’t it high time they come out with a strong voice and stand firm against tyranny? Isn’t it about time they reign in half educated mullahs who keep distorting the true meanings of the glorious Quran to suit their fantasies. Isn’t it time, we invest more of our time in educating our people that killing their Christian neighbors wont further the cause of Islam. And isn’t it time, we liberate these millions by making both authentic Islamic and western education available to them. Because in the absence of education, it is ignorance. Clearly, if the northern leadership cared enough about Islam they will know the importance that the prophet of Islam attached to the acquisition of knowledge. However, by pursuing the leadership, I wont spare the rioters either. Ignorance would not be an excuse here, the Quran states that no life is superior to the other, hence, they need to be rounded up and herded into jail. They have not only killed non Muslims in the Muslim north, they have by their reckless actions killed enterprising Muslims in the Christian east as well through reprisal actions by Igbo youths. And as for the reprisal attacks, as sad as they were, I am not quick to condemn the Igbo youths, because how do you tell me after killing any member of my family to just sit and do nothing. As despicable as their reprisal attacks were, who threw the first punch? And if we are a nation of laws not of men, let justice prevail and in an ideal society both parties should be hauled into jail. The prophet of Islam does not need any Maiduguri or Katsina man to protest his interest, as a bearer of good tidings, his words and actions are there in the open for all to see. Over 1400 years after his demise, the Christian west has not succeeded in distorting his true teachings, this despite polemics and subtle attacks on his person. We need to abide by the Quranic injunction that states the Quran, Islam and I infer by extension to include also the prophet of Islam are all the Lord’s doing and He will protect them Himself. In this time of tragedy, let all people of goodwill, Muslims and non Muslims alike stand shoulder to shoulder and defeat the campaign of violence wherever it may rear its ugly head. Because of our shared humanity, lets say a loud NO to violence, be it Muslim or Christian instigated. Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia can be reached at abdu_mumi@yahoo.co.uk
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