SOME Islamic elite have written to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, asking him to lead the dialogue with members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The elite, writing under the aegis of Concerned Muslim Professionals, told the Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, to use his position and engage members of Boko Haram in dialogue that would lead to ceasing of the sect’s campaign of killings.
The President of the organization, Alhaji Mohammed Saidu, in the letter to the Sultan, said the activities of Boko Haram were regrettable and that they constituted an embarrassment to the Islamic religion. The group also noted that there had been no efforts by the Muslim leadership in the country to intervene in the crisis and insecurity created by the sect members, adding that the Sultan’s recognition would become doubtful if he failed to rise to the occasion.
Part of the letter read, “If the family of billionaire Umar Mutallab could have a terrorist in its midst, then such a disease could be everywhere; it can only take the effort of the Sultan and the other Muslim leaders to mobilise compliance by parents and relatives, which is part of the actions being demanded by well-meaning Nigerians.
“The biggest task before our Muslim and Islamic leaders in the North is to reconcile the warring Muslim and Christian communities through forgiveness, healing and genuine social integration and coexistence; similar to the one referred to by General Gowon on the Muslims of the South-West geopolitical zone. The other task is to make Boko Haram come out of hiding, denounce terrorism and embrace government’s overtures.
“A failure on the part of the Muslim leadership (under His Eminence the Sultan) to discharge these responsibilities/actions to the later will render it of questionable ability, doubtful recognition, decimal loyalty or an outright dismissal as a mere smoke-screen. As obedient and loyalists to His Eminence the Sultan, our hearts bleed on these realities.”
The CMP’s letter coincided with a view by the United States of America that military action alone could not solve the insurgency in the northern Nigeria.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, said defeating terrorism required more than just military power but that it also entailed protecting the civilian populations by working to develop impoverished areas where extremism takes root, and making education accessible to all. Entwistle, who spoke at the 238th Independence Day anniversary of the US in Abuja on Friday, said for the war against terrorism to succeed, a free and fair press must be empowered to report openly and without fear of reprisal, among other things.
He said, “Defeating terrorism requires more than just military power. It requires protecting civilian populations despite terrorists’ disregard for human life in their campaign to wage war on the state; it requires working to develop impoverished areas where extremism takes root.
“It requires ensuring that education is accessible to all, it requires empowering a free and fair press to report openly and without fear of reprisal. And, perhaps most importantly, it requires engaging the growing youth populations that are being swayed towards extremism due to lack of economic opportunities, education and trust in government.
The envoy explained that security partnership was at the forefront of its assistance to Nigeria against the backdrop of the increasing spate of kidnappings, bombings, and other despicable acts of terrorism by Boko Haram. He said the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti was an excellent example of what happens when all players, the government, citizens, security forces, and political parties commit to ensuring respect for the electoral process and for one another.
The ambassador expressed optimism about the unity of Nigeria, saying he was struck by the fact that what united Nigerians was more than what separates them. He said that every citizen wanted to participate in a strong, active democracy; they all wanted better roads, better schools, and more access to basic services like clean water and electricity, as well as more economic opportunity for themselves and their families.
Entwistle identified the role of partnership in improving democracy, stressing that the democratic experiment in the US would not have been possible without the influence and support of its international partners.
He said that when America’s Founding Fathers authored their Declaration of Independence, they were inspired by British and French philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Charles Montesquieu with the building blocks of their democracy derived from the thoughts of individuals from other nations.
“As our fledgling democracy grew, we relied on security assistance from a number of international partners. As time went on, our democratic ideals began to inspire the rest of the world. Through diplomacy and cultural exchanges, an idea took root that changed human history,” Entwistle said.
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