by Taye Babaleye, Nigeria, November 1999
THEME = RELIGION
For observers the Sharia agenda is being sponsored from outside Nigeria
Are foreign powers behind the introduction of the Sharia in Zamfara State. Bearing in mind the economic and religious implications of the Sharia in a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, will the Islamic legal system not lead to social malaise, economic and religious riots at the slightest provocation? Will non-Muslims who dominate the social and economic life of Zamfara state not be forced to evacuate the state? If Islamic laws are allowed to operate in one part of the country while a different legal system exists in other parts, will that not lead to chaos in the country's legal system? Nigerians are asking these and other questions.
Observers say that the speed with which the project was executed, and the boldness of Governor Ahmed Sani to ignore all the consequences, and this in a state where the government has not been able to pay teachers' salaries regularly, are evidence that the Sharia agenda is certainly being sponsored from outside Nigeria.
The strong belief of the majority of non-Muslims, especially Christians, is that some powerful Muslim elements in northern Nigeria are colluding with some Islamic states in North Africa and the Middle East to fund the introduction of the Sharia at this point in time, so as to embarrass President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and destabilize it.
Non-Muslims, especially from southern Nigeria, now argue that Obasanjo's anti-corruption policies, and the purging of the military of all officers who held political appointments since 1966, did not go well with some unpatriotic northern leaders. Hence, the introduction of the Sharia to create confusion and break the country into pieces.
The Nigerian military officer corps has for long been dominated by northern ethnic groups who are mostly affected by the anti- corruption stance of the present administration.
Accusing fingers are thus being pointed at the northern leaders who have openly complained of what they called the "marginalisation of the north" by the Obasanjo government. It should be recalled that Obasanjo, is a Christian, and a Yoruba from the south-west. On assuming office as Nigeria's President, he immediately retired all military officers who at one time or the other had held political appointments in the country.
Vice-President Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, who was supposed to be the guest of honour on the occasion of the launching of Sharia Law in Zamfara State, boycotted the ceremony. Also absent was the Sultan of Sokoto, and the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Mohammed Maccido. Out of the 17 Muslim State governors invited to the launching of the Sharia, only one was physically present while the rest sent representatives.
The Federal government's objection to the introduction of the Sharia was reiterated by President Olusegun Obasanjo's declaration that it was illegal and unconstitutional for any governor to adopt the Islamic law system in Nigeria.
Let's look at some facts. A former Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, says nothing is wrong with what is happening in Zamfara. In open support for the introduction of the Sharia, Musa said the Federal government cannot stop any state government from introducing a legal system perceived to be in the best interest of the citizens of such a state.
As if to buttress Musa's position, the governments of Sokoto, Bauchi, Niger, Kebbi, and Kano, (hotbed of Nigeria's religious riots in the past), are planning to introduce the Sharia in their states.
Also worrisome is the fact that some foreign diplomats attended the launching even though the Federal government did not send a representative. All these are pointers to the fact that some foreign countries in collaboration with certain individuals from northern Nigeria, are behind the adoption of the Sharia in Zamfara.
Nigeria's Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said the latest developments in the Nigerian polity have only underlined the lack of cohesion in the nation and proven the necessity of a restructuring. He described the adoption of the Sharia by Zamfara State as "a tacit act of secession from the nation". He reaffirmed the imperative of a National Conference to debate and negotiate "the modalities of a productively harmonious coexistence", adding that "restructuring is the urgent necessity of our time. It is the imperative of our survival and coexistence. The virus that has indeed infected the marrow of the nation and attained this critical stage, is the challenge posed against national cohesion by the decision of one state to define itself as a Muslim state in a pluralistic polity... How else can we define this step but a tacit act of secession from the nation?"
Since the days of the last military regime under the late head of state, General Sani Abacha, members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) have been agitating for a Sovereign National Conference, whereby all ethnic groups in the country would discuss and negotiate their participation in the national government. They now see what's happened in Zamfara can only hasten the day towards addressing the issue of the national sovereign conference.
Commercial banks in Zamfara state have threatened to leave the state if Sharia law is observed in every detail because under Islamic law, commercial banks cannot charge interest on loans to customers. When launching Sharia Law, Governor Sani said it was not his intention to islamize Zamfara state. He said he was only exercising his rights as an elected governor, adding that the law was not meant for non-Muslims in the state. The Governor also accused past Muslim leaders in the country of "begging the issue and insincerity" as far as the practice of the Sharia was concerned. He promised to establish Islamic hotels in the state and in Abuja, the Federal Capital territory and also promised to change the working hours in the state to allow Muslims observe regularly the prayer periods. Governor Sani has already purchased special buses to convey the women-folk exclusively in the state. In addition, he has promised to establish Islamic banks to cater exclusively for Muslims in the state.
In truth, Nigeria is a fragile democracy at risk of collapse
END