By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Following attempts by some players in the nation’s politics to turn the all-important and long-awaited 2023 general elections process into dividing Nigerians along religion and ethnic line and thus drifting the country into situation of conflict and anarchy, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) rose on Tuesday with a strong-worded statement asking those actors to stop.
In a statement with reference number NSCIA/HQ/PRS/042, dated 7th Sha’ban, 1444 AH equivalent to 28th February 2023 and jointly signed by its Deputy Secretary General, Professor Salisu Shehu, and its Director of Administration, Architect Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, the ‘unputdownably’ essential Islamic Council takes exception to unpatriotic behaviours of such political actors saying, while reckless statements from inconsequential individuals can be easily ignored, there will be no excuse for respected political leaders getting involved with such subversive activities.
The DEFENDER reports that the Al-Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar-led Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs was talking from its usual watchword that, irrespective of what religion, region or tribe anyone belongs to, he must first have a country before he is anything or can do anything successful.
It, therefore, “cautions political leaders and actors against making provocative and unguarded statements that could drag the country into unnecessary conflict and anarchy.”
According to the statement obtained by this multilingual newspaper (online) on Tuesday, the Islamic Council, which has also paid its dues in ensuring that Nigerian Muslims relate and peacefully co-exist with their fellow Christian citizens in spite of everything, made bold to warn political actors to realise the importance of unrelenting adherence to process and procedure in the ongoing electoral process and stop making reckless statements capable of further inflicting pains on the nation and its good people.
“While reckless statements from inconsequential individuals can be easily ignored, this is not so of those respected political leaders. It is important that patriotic and well-meaning Nigerian leaders should support unrelenting adherence to process and procedure in the ongoing electoral process.
“This is because any inclination to unprocedural decision or action at this critical time is a direct call for anarchy which will not yield any positive outcome to the Nation,” it said.
In the meantime, the NSCIA has counseled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain undistracted and committed to its duty until it discharges it to its logical conclusion.
“All Nigerians, particularly Muslims are urged to, no matter the level of provocation from certain quarters, remain calm and prayerful.
“May Almighty Allah grant our country peace and stability,” the NSCIA concluded.
