Muslim clerics in Ogun State under the aegis of Progressive Muslim Cleric, PMC, have admonished the federal government to urgently tackle and uproot the insecurity threat currently facing the country.
President of PMC, Abdul Wasiu Akinyemi, made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta during a press conference held in commemoration of the 1448 Hegira celebration.
The Islamic scholar stressed the need for the federal government to do more to restore normalcy for Nigerians.
The cleric also dismissed claims that insecurity is tied to one ethnic group, insisting that kidnapping and terrorism predate current hotspots, recalling the 2010 Eagle Square bombing during President Jonathan’s administration as evidence that the threat was never regional.
“Evidence abounds that this is not actually tied to a single tribe. Even if we are talking about kidnapping, you can trace its origin. It didn’t start from where it is most prominent now. We all know where kidnapping started from, even at the height of terrorism. So, from there, it moved on to some other parts of the country. Similarly, to the adherence of any faith, either Islam, Christianity, traditional, men and women, when they are caught, we see them on TV.
“We read them on newspapers that this is Chinedu and Adamu that have gone to kidnap. Even some southerners will even change their names to a northern name, but it is only when they are caught that we realise. So this goes to tell us that we are kidding ourselves thinking that it’s just a tribe that is perpetrating this evil.”
Speaking on punishment, he said Shariah prescribes strict penalties for bandits, terrorists and kidnappers based on the gravity of their offences.
“You see, in Islam, as a religion, it has a standard for everything. Shariah talked about how to deal with somebody apprehended as a bandit, a terrorist or a kidnapper. Kidnappers, terrorists, what do they do mostly? They kill. An eye for an eye… If you cut the right hand, cut the left leg as well. The third one is banishment, but it is interpreted as life imprisonment,” he explained.
The scholar stressed that Nigeria is a secular state and the government must balance constitutional provisions with religious perspectives from Islam and Christianity to address crime effectively.
“Nigeria is a secular state, and I am talking as a Muslim scholar. The federal government will have to balance the two. The constitution, what does Islam say, what does Christianity say and arrive at a point.
“But the onus is on the federal government to make sure that this problem of insecurity is tackled, is uprooted and will begin to live our lives as normal citizens of Nigeria. They should do more,” he added.
DAILY POST reports that the 1448 Hegira celebration is themed, “Voices in Myriad Pathways: From Migration to Civic Action”
Speaking on the significance of Hijrah, Akinyemi said the migration of Prophet Muhammad symbolised hope, resilience and transformation, noting that the early Muslims overcame severe hardship through faith, wisdom and collective effort, which laid the foundation for a great civilisation.
According to him, the spirit of Hijrah calls for a shift from conflict to peace, corruption to integrity, and poverty to prosperity, adding that the new Islamic year should mark a period of spiritual renewal, economic progress and sustainable national development for the country.
