By Bobson Gbinije

GIVEN  the present political  scenario in the world where America has become the only singular superpower and the unilateral policeman of the world festooned with veto powers and great armamental reservoirs, the need for Islamic hegemonism has become fundamentally crucial to all Moslems. Moslems and Moslem countries are therefore in a grand alliance in asserting their relevance in the scheme of things through the enforcement of sharia laws. But they should re-tailor their style to take due cognizance of and respect for other interests.

Nigeria as a nation remains a melting-pot sustained by various divergent interests fighting to assert themselves over the other, the military, the politicians, the religious bodies, traditional institutions etc. and the need for harnessing this pot-purri of multitudinous interest becomes critically crucial. The subterranean and clandestine declaration of Nigeria as a member of Islamic organisations without due recourse to the secular and pluralistic nature of our country, smacks of the wanton betrayal of our ‘NATIONHOOD’. It is an unmistakable confirmation of our suspicion that Nigeria is on the track to becoming an “Islamic fundamentalist” country. As reflected in Boko Harams’ massacres.

The calculated stratagem of hob-nobbing with Islamic fundamentalism as a religious cum political ideology calculated to empower Moslems using military and political surrogates as fronts is fraught with baneful consequences. In seeking to fulfil their tall dreams let them heed the words of Thomas Jefferson “The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them require not the aid of many counsellors. The whole art of government consist in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail. No longer persevere in sacrificing the rights of one part of the empire to the inordinate desires of another; but deal out to all equal and impartial right. Let no act, be passed by any one legislature which may infringe on the rights and liberties of another.”

The horrific state of atrocities and the ghoulishly horrendous acts of murder being unlashed on the innocent citizens of “Algeria” by Islamic militants, the  nightmarish mayhem into which Christians in Kaduna state, Zamfara state and Niger state are submerged are some examples of the evil manifestations of Islamic fundamentalism. They abound all over the world and they abhor dialogue as a formidable tool of crisis resolution. They have neither the Koran nor any moral Islamic law to back their belligerent proclivities, but just a clear-cut desire to idolize the Islamic religion by superimposing the politics of violence and the Sharia.

In the Sudan, the military-Islamic repressive regime of Omar Bashir has plunged Sudan into over 16 years of civil war. His wanton declaration of Holy war – a Jihad against his own people to enable him impose the “Islamic law” has precipitated a state of political torpsy-turvydom in the Sudan. His “Islamic agenda” was challenged by a pluralistic society which led to the balkanization of Sudan. Karl Marx avers that “Religion is the opium of the people”, but it is best when left as an individual thing. The story is the same everywhere. Wherever there is a belief in the consummate islamisation of a nation there must be a resistance. In Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Algeria, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia the story is the same. Nigeria is the largest entrant into this macabre and gory religious dance.

Inter and intra Islamic extremism and    fanaticism flagshipped by doctrinal differences and fallacies has violence its aftermath. This kind of violence by Islamic militants has become a common feature in Nigeria. In December 18, 1980 Kano municipality was engulfed in a bloody civil disorder that dislocated and virtually brought its economic life to a standstill. Consequently, the then President Shehu Shagari by an instrument executed on 5th January, 1980 and published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria official gazette, No 2 volume 65 dated 8th January, 1981 as G.I. No. 3 of 1981, at pages B4 and B5, the then President constituted a “Tribunal of Inquiry Act of 1980” to look into the said disturbances in Kano with Honourable Justice Anthony Aniagolu OFR as Chairman.

The tribunal later revealed that the riot was fomented by one Mohammadu Marwa alias Maitasine, who started his religious terror in Nigeria in 1952. It also mentioned the activities of Ibrahim EL ZAK ZAKY for his role in fomenting Moslem Students Society, MSS, riot in 1970 at Ahmadu Bello University. The catalogue of woes which ‘Maitasine’ and EL ZAK ZAKY has unleashed on Moslems and non-Moslems alike are too well known to be mentioned.

Let me quote profusely from the booklet  titled “Report of the Tribunal of Enquire on Kano disturbances” from page 91 – Recommendations 346 and 347 talking about antidotes to religious extremism “Government must reframe totally from exhibiting any attitude of special patronage or show of preference or favour to any particular religious groups or leaders. They also have a duty to ensure an even and fair distribution of the nation’s media resources to enable all shades of accredited religious opinions wishing to reach the people to do so provided that they conform to existing regulations.”

Still on palliatives to extremism it goes on to say “so much work is yet to be done to educate the public on the need for tolerance and co-existence in a plural and non-secular society like Nigeria. That we are part and parcel of a changing world and that the process is a continuing one from which fresh challenges will emanate from time to time and must be contained with reason and the laws of the land. Maitasine has departed from the religious conflict after falling victim to the virus of intolerance which he typified and gave expression to by violent reactions, kidnapping and slaughtering of innocent human beings. He even turned himself into fake “prophet” and in so doing desecrated all the goodness and reverence that Islam stands for.”

The unconstitutional and forceful introduction of Sharia in some Northern states precipitated a teratoid carnage. The violence in Kaduna state came to a head because of the mutant inability, administrative senescence and sardonic lethargy of government. The conduct of the religious leaders on both sides (Christians and Moslems) remains till date reprehensibly indictable.

The Sharia acted as a catalyst to the Boko Haram type of Islamist insurgency that has become the bane of our inchoate democracy in Nigeria.

The consequences in both long and short term on the Nigerian Nation are going to be dreadfully wanton. The Nigerian government must apply all constitutional and military means to quell and forestall this “BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY.” It must be made glaringly clear to all Christians and Moslem alike, that Nigeria is a “SECULAR NATION” and all the excesses of religious groups must be decisively confronted head-on. Why did the Kaduna State police grant marching permit to the Moslems and the Christians? Why did the Kaduna state government not condemn the initial march permit granted the Moslems? This was what stimulated the response by the Christians.

The political empowerment of the Moslems can only be perfected in a military setting (where they dominate), hence their profound and consuming desire to make Nigeria ungovernable through the unconstitutional and undemocratic introduction of Boko Haramism. This, they believe will stimulate the reappearance of the military, thereby enhancing their political empowerment. But Woodrow Wilson warned in 1917 that “we must protect democracy by all means.” The ball is in the court of every Nigerian.

It is a monumental disgrace and shame that Christians and Moslems who claim to be children of Allah or the Almighty God are locked in this orgy of violence in Nigeria. Where lies the principles of their faith. They henceforth have no locus standi to assert their holiness. They must in-keeping with their faith reconcile themselves. We are told that both and all religions are foundationed on the e superstructure of LOVE. Where is love in Islamism and in Christianity?

Islamist insurgency is taking a serpentine spread across our world. There is indeed, a global genocide being unleashed on the world and all institutional peace agencies like the United Nations ,UN, African Union, AU, ASEAN, OAS, ECOWAS, OPEC, Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC, World Christian Organization etc. must urgently come together to map out strategies to forestall this monster of religious extremism by global collective action. The poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) said that “One hour of life, crowned to the full with glorious action, and filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances of paltry decorum.”

Finally, I profoundly agree with Honourable Justice Anthony Aniagolu tribunal’s recommendation, but only to add that, the sociology of religion glaringly  shows that religion has lost its original commission and injunction – “Universal brotherhood through love.” Men now worship themselves, money and power, and that is the political mission and drive of “Islamic Fundamentalism.” Whatever guise it takes in its quest for political empowerment it should respect the interest of others and shun violence.

*Mr. Gbinije, a social critic wrote from Warri, Delta State