Boko Haram

A delegate representing the Christian Association of Nigeria at the National Conference, Prof. Yusuf Turaki, on Tuesday in Abuja berated the northern political and religious leaders for the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

He said northern Nigeria was at the brink of collapse and ruin because of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry.

He spoke while making his contribution during the debate on the report of the Conference Committee on Religion.

Turaki said, “Mr. Chairman, the question I have to ask is: why has the Northern Muslim Umma, the traditional rulers and the political class allowed Boko Haram to grow from an insignificant religious movement into a militant religious force that has overwhelmed them? From my understanding of Islam and religion, herein lies the root of our problem in the North.”

The don, however, commended the three major recommendations of the Committee; first affirming Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which “states that the government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion and second, making justiciable the provisions in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution on the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy; and the establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission.”

He said, “My great concern on the state of religion in Nigeria lies in its definition and use, especially, religious extremism, militancy and fanaticism. The religious bodies, both Christian and Muslim have not done enough in fighting religious extremism among their adherents.”

“Even countries that are homogeneous, they can be torn apart by religious extremism, for example Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Northern Nigeria is at the brinks of collapse and ruin solely on account of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry. When religion moves from the stage of faith to the stage of an ideology, all human forces of evil and wickedness are unleashed.”

According to him, what was needed was for “all Nigerians and public officers to have and imbibe a national code of conduct, ethics and core values, such as integrity, transparency, accountability, honesty, probity, hard work, humility, courtesy and humaneness”.