The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has slammed the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria which at the weekend called for the “unconstitutional removal of three Governors of Adamawa (Murtala Nyako); Borno (Kashim Shettima) and Yobe (Ibrahim Gaidam) through what the CAN calls declaration of full blown State of Emergency in the three northern States.”
A statement by Al Habibbiyyan said “ We view this call by the Northern CAN as being purely out of ruthless religious sentiments given the fact that the Association has never called for the removal of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State who has been incapacitated for about two years even when he has almost fulfil a constitutional requirement for removal. Rather, CAN is apparently using its closeness to the Presidency to protect sick Danbaba Suntai for being a member of the Northern Christians Association of Nigeria and calling on the President to subvert the constitution and remove Governors that are Muslims whose only fault is providing support with billions of naira to the federal government through the Military whose responsibility it is to ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians.
The society notes that “President Jonathan has repeatedly explained that there is nothing like half or full blown state of emergency. At his last Presidential Media Chat, the President explained that constitutional provisions (section 305) that deal with declaration of state of emergency does not make provisions for removal of any Governor or indeed, any democratic structure in Nigeria. As many legal experts have said, Governors can only be removed by permanent incapacity, death, resignation, impeachment or removal by a court of law. Let’s not forget that the Supreme Court had already ruled that the former once done were unconstitutional.
“Come to think of it, what was Northern CAN’s basis for that unholy request? The association claims that Christians were the most targets of Boko Haram attacks in the Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. How wrong this assertion is!
Just last week, 350 citizens of a Mulim dominated area of Gumbaru-Nagala in Borno State have just been massacred by Boko Haram, an entire market belonging to them was burnt, their houses were destroyed, dozen of trailers carrying their foodstuff were set ablaze. This is just one case. Has the CAN forgotten the attacks in Konduga, also in Borno, in which Muslim worshippers were bombed during pre-dawn prayers? What about the killings in Izge, Gwoza in Borno of 106 Muslims, the killings in Bama of Muslims, the killings of notable Muslims like General Muhammad Shuwa etc by the Boko haram? What about the killings in Maiduguri from 2009 to date of so many Muslims? What about in recent times, the killings of hundreds of Muslims in Zamfara by Boko Haram under the guise of cattle rustlers? If we are talking about abduction, what about the abduction of Borno’s most respected and one of Nigeria’s elder statesman, Dr Shettima Monguno?
“Boko Haram is regularly condemned by all Muslims in Nigeria and rest of the world. Muslims and Christians should continue to unite against this group.
We are very saddened by the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Chibok, many of our members have been fasting from that day, we don’t care if the girls are Christians or Muslims, they are Nigerians and most importantly, they are human beings. In Chibok, from what we have gathered, families have amongst them Muslims and Christians, in some case, born of same parents. From the list of some of the schoolgirls, Christians bear Muslim names. We even read that the Amirah of that school that is spiritual leader of Muslim Students is one of those abducted by Boko Haram. To us, the safety of the Amirah is as important as those of her Christian fellows with Boko Haram. In our holy Quran (Q17 v 70) that true Muslims refer to, Allah said he has dignified all human creatures, no matter their religion or social status and by this, it is mandatory on all true Muslims to respect all humans. Boko Haram as well as know, kills anybody regardless of being a Muslim or Christian. They abduct anyone they also get to kill or demand for ransom. Muslims have suffered far most from the hands of Boko Haram. It is true though, that Christians have suffered too. But to give religious coloration to the Boko Haram attack such as Northern CAN putting pressure on Nigeria’s President to remove the Governors in the North through autocratic means is very disheartening and unhelpful. To us, the Boko haram insurgency is a war against Nigeria and Nigerians.
According to the society “Another good fact is a credible report by an Abuja Nigerian Newspaper published on Sunday, May 11, 2014, that President Goodluck Jonathan’s led Federal Government had rejected offers made by the United States way back, to help in fighting Boko Haram, whose evil brutality breeds orphans, widows, widowers and destruction of public institutions and private property in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe States and rest of Nigeria. The President’s spokesman, Reuben Abati denied that offers were initially made even though a highly respected U.S official, Ambassador Jonnie Carson said the contrary right in Abuja. We expect CAN to ask the President why he turned down offers of superior counter-insurgency technology when the offers were initially made by the United States of America. Why did he have to wait until more hundreds of people were being killed and schoolgirls abducted. If we are to reason like the northern Christians Association of Nigeria, we might ask if President Jonathan turned down offers made to help in fighting Boko Haram when mostly Muslim northerners were being killed but only accepted the offer now that mostly Christian schoolgirls have been abducted by Boko Haram? However, we will not think like northern CAN. We do not suspect the President of any foul play. We think his initial rejection of the offers were with faithful intentions, and love for the sovereignty of Nigeria nation.
The society called on “President Goodluck Jonathan to please be conscious and cautious of help from the powerful nations and he should be mindful of Trojan help. We the citizen of this country, whether Muslim or Christian, whether from the West, North or South, to be mindful of our utterances so that we will get that greatness that Allah has promised us. “
