By S. O. K. Shillings
I knew that Islam in the northern and southern Nigeria are different (unfortunately so). But one speaker trending in the media is telling us that Islam in Sokoto is different from Islam in Kano. He pointed that whoever insults the Holy Prophet (May the peace of Allah continue to be upon his soul) in Sokoto will be killed. He has not been arrested. He will not be arrested.
Some clerics in the north have demonised Islam and made it a tool of oppression. The cankerworm festered to the point that it has become a menace to the northern elites themselves. Deborah did not die this week, she died long ago because the menace that killed her has been there all along. It is not even because she is a christian or anything. It could happen to anyone.
Recall that Boko Haram means education (western) is forbidden. It is a direct call to arms against the elites especially of the north. The enlightened culture they want to bring is considered alien. I was in Ilorin sometime ago. I saw a young boy of 18 – 20 in an arabic school. I called him and asked if he was in school. He said his mallam had told him that the schools are infested with cultism and it would derail him from the path of righteousness. That is Ilorin where they are so well educated.
Recall that when boko-haram started in Borno, it was that kind of youths that started it like a movement. It turned out against the elites who assisted in festering it. In the north now, the elites are becoming endangered. They associate with them politically because they are a big constituency. Blame Atiku for deleting his tweets of condemnation of Deborah’s death; or others for not talking. It is politically inexpedient especially in an all-voters democracy. In fact, they will be attacked.
A few years ago, Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi opined that it was wrong to encourage jobless people who could not manage one wife to take up another. Sheikh Gumi retorted that the revered Emir, by that opinion, was not a muslim. It was short of pronouncing a direct Fatwa on the Emir. His deposition was written. Who then is qualified to redefine Islam in northern Nigeria? How many elite northerner can issue the condemnation. The clerics and mallams have taken the souls of the youths. Western education is a threat to their industry. It’s a battle without a battlefield. It must take a concerted effort because even the westernly well educated ones like Sheikh Gumi is not sad that he is meeting his products in the forests instead of the paradise on earth before hereafter that Islam preaches and the Holy Prophet exemplified and demonstrated in the administration that has made Saudi Arabia great till date.
The northern elites must take a stand now. The detention of Sheikh El zakyzaky may be an infringement of fundamental right, but the protection of the rights of others to the fundamentals require tough measures perhaps a bit outside the books.
The arrested killers must be prosecuted. Such teachers as the man who claims that in Sokoto, it is right to kill for blasphemy. I do not know why anyone would blasphem the prophet when we are not in jalliyyah period if nobody has raised an issue to such point. And what constitutes blasphemy?
All efforts were made to make Islam one. It is why the Quran is written in one language. Islam is one and well-defined. It is Muslims that need
to be redefined.
#Justice for Deborah
S. O. K. Shillings Esq., writes from Ikorodu.
