The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has criticized the reaction of the Christian Association of Nigeria , to the statement by the Chief Justice of Nigeria , Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko, where the latter advocated for a constitutional amendment to address contemporary Muslim concerns to the application of Sharia.
It said it supported the idea to amend the Constitution to address current challenges faced by Muslims in the application of the principles of Sharia as contained in the Constitution, saying it will grant every Nigerian the unfettered right to practise his/her religion without any encumbrances. “To begin with, it does not take rocket science for the discerning to understand the position of the Constitution on Sharia, putting into consideration the comments of the CJN. It does not require any recondite or esoteric knowledge to understand that our statute is completely in agreement with Sharia, especially in matters of Personal Law. The Nigerian Constitution is already “religiously inclined.” That is why it grants freedom of worship to every Nigerian.
The Council accused CAN of double standard by maintaining a muted stance, when the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, openly declared Christianity a state religion in Rivers State in flagrant disregard of the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as contained in Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which abhors state religion.
It lashed CAN of sacrificing and defiling national interest, cohesion and integration. It also said the Christian umbrella body is working with foreign interests to undermine the unity of the country and stoke the fire of instability.
The press should tell Nigerians or guide the nation on the path to development only. Focusing on religious brouhaha will do us no good. The world is not waiting for us to catch up.