BUHARI CALLS FOR TOTAL SHARIA ACROSS NIGERIA

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Buhari Calls for Sharia in All States 

By Saxone Akhaine

August 27, 2001

Kaduna — Former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari at the weekend, tookstock of Sharia implementation in some northern states and concluded that the Islamic legal system has restored sanity in the affected states.

Buhari, who only recently attracted much criticisms over an alleged statement to the effect that Moslems in the country should vote for only fellow Moslems in future elections, pledged to commit himself tothe full implementation of the law in Nigeria.

He also asserted that even critics, the Federal government inclusiveis satisfied with the level of internal security in Zamfara State, where the legal code is in full swing.

For the Moslems, the ertswhile ruler stated that the introduction of Sharia has united and enabled them to regain what they lost to thecolonialists and other external forces .

To avoid friction with non-Moslems however, Buhari advocated an enlightenment campaign through persuasion to assist them grasp the workings of Sharia.

The former head of state who was the special guest of honour at the first yearly National Convention of the Supreme Council for Sharia inNigeria (SCSN), held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, urged Moslems to be bold in their efforts to ensure that the Islamic jurisprudence is rooted in all the 36 states of the federation.

"For Moslems in Nigeria as I mentioned at other, occasions, at least twice, we were overrun by the colonialists and our way of life was drastically changed... And one of the things we lost for being overrun by the colonialists is for us to be denied the freedom to practice our religion as it is or as it was and as it has always been. But, God in his infinite mercy brought this independence back to us through a democratic system of government."

Buhari further said that "what remains for Moslems in Nigeria is for them to redouble the necessary education," stressing that they should educate Moslems on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia in the country; " and there is nothing to be afraid of."

"It is a legal responsibility God has given us within the context of one Nigeria to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia Wholeheartedly... and to educate non-Moslems that they have nothing to fear, because the biggest fear of Nigerians are three insecurities that I identified a very long time ago."

Buhari traced the insecurity in the country to the door-step of the Federal Government which he accused of failing to put crime under control.

Said he: "In regard to physical insecurity, the government has failed in this respect to do the two basic and fundamental things for all persons within a state, particularly the protection of life and property."

Though he did not disclose the foreign powers that are frustrating Sharia implementation nationwide, he advised his audience not to relent on the education of their fellow Moslems.

"I believe education is the most difficult one because of the forces outside that are insisting that Moslems in Nigeria should not be allowed to raise their heads, which to me is not the ideal thing."

Buhari continued: "This is the sacrifice the Moslems will have to make and persuade their fellow country men who are non-Moslems to accept. I will continue to show openly and inside me, the total commitment to Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria, God Willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementationof the Sharia in the country".

In his contribution, Niger State Governor Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure stated that the 1999 Constitution gave the various states the opportunity to upgrade their various laws saying that "this has now become history."

"At the beginning, it was objected to vehemently by others. Today, even the Federal Government has conceded to the fact that all what the states have done is within the ambit of the laws."

Kure urged the officials of the council to ensure that the basic objectives of the legal code are achieved all over Nigeria.

The event was attended by the former Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim,representatives of governments of Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

There were also Islamic scholars from Imo, Enugu, Jigawa, Plateau,Niger, and Borno states.

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