Yola – A Kano-based Islamic cleric, Dr. Sa’ad  Dukawa,  has called on the well meaning Nigerians to support the establishment of  true federalism in the country.

Dukawa made the call in a paper he presented at the 8th Adamawa Centre for Islamic Thought annual seminar held in Yola on Sunday.

“At the level of Nigeria, we should at least push for the application of true federalism system,” Dukawa said.

Dukawa,  the Director  of research and documentation at the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) Nigeria Office, Kano,  said that the implementation of true federalism would bring liberty and peace to all Nigerians.

“The Federalism system of governance will allow for each state to have its own constitution with liberty to build the constitution around religious principles.

“This is what obtains in the United States of America, where states such as, Utah operates a quasi-theocracy and nobody seems to be complaining about it”, Dukawa said.

According to him,  the state of Utah is currently among the top three peaceful,  strong economic and standard education states in America.

He noted that the implementation of the true federalism would  not only help  Nigeria to be strong in terms of economic  growth  and stability, but also solve many problems, especially the lack of morality and social security problems.

Also contributing at the seminar, the Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim, said that the seminar came at a right time when Nigeria was facing security challenges.

He challenged Muslims in the country to always exhibit the good Islamic teaching of  peace and  seeking knowledge  to move the country forward.

Also in his remark, the Director of the centre, Malam  Usman Dadah, said that  the theme of the seminar was “ Islam: Religion of Peace”, adding that it was chosen  to enable  Muslims to brainstorm in the light of current developments in the country.

He emphasised  the need  for unity among Nigerians, saying:” Islam  is a religion of peace and therefore, does not tolerate indiscriminate  killings”, Dadah said. (NAN)