Terrorism is not in our character - arisenigeria condemns act

Nigerian accused of attacking US passenger jet - Terrorism is not in our character - arisenigeria condemns act

The reported attempt at blowing up an American Airliner (Northwest Airlines Flight 253) by a Nigerian, Mr Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, is an escalation of the consequences and deepening crisis of governance and lax security in Nigeria. In particular it highlights the abusive manipulation of religion by those who are bent on destroying Nigeria and everything Nigerian in their desire to impose their will on the peace loving people of our country.

Nigerians have continued to witness an increasing tendency towards religious extremism especially since 1999 when the country returned to democratic governance.

The use of state resources to further the course of religious views in parts of the country and the failure of the federal government to uphold the secularity of the Nigerian state has served to emboldened those who would stop at nothing until their views are forced onto the rest of the citizens by any which way ever. It has to be noted that tens of thousand of Nigerians have been murdered in cold blood by religious extremists within the shores of Nigeria without a noticeable action on the part of the government to deal with root causes of this slide to lawlessness and anarchy.

Whilst we applaud the actions and statements credited to the Nigerian government and security officials, as well the steps taken by the father of the said individual involved in this dastardly act, we hasten to add that the government should take a closer look at the root causes of the ugly development in the country. The attempt to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state can only lead to anarchy and lawlessness in the scale witnessed in places such as Sudan and Somalia. The constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria is clear about the secularity of the country. Upholding the statute should become a priority of the Federal government and membership of all religious organisation(s) to which Nigeria has been signed into must be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

There is also the need to have a responsive government that is willing to provide jobs to the millions of unemployed youths in Nigeria and put an end to the culture of mass illiteracy in Nigeria.

This incident is also a wake up call for the international community, and friends of Nigeria to diligently collaborate with the forces of progress campaigning for the further democratisation, and equitable and sustainable development of Nigeria. Ithas to be noted that Nigeria has the highest population of Muslims than any country in Africa. Since independence, the country has witnessed varying degrees of manipulation of religion as part of the power politics of the country’s ruling class.

From the late 70s, through the 80s and up to this century, there has been repeated organised pogrom of non Muslims. With the apparent merger of these domestic extremist tendencies with international al-Qaeda, the reactionary manipulation of Islam in Nigeria can no longer be ignored.

The sources of funding for these extremist activities can therefore no longer be ignored by both the Nigerian government and international community.

No doubt Nigerians around the world are concerned about the potential effect of this development on their credibility. arisenigeria however believes that the moment calls for a renewed commitment towards awakening and/or creating the much needed spirit of true Nigerian Nationalism. The behaviour of Mr Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab shames us all. This much, the actions of Mr Abdulmutallab (Snr) demonstrates, that is, as a people it is not in our culture to participate in the kind of mass hatred and murders that the world has witnessed in the last couple of years.

Nigerians must engage with and make it clear that we all crave international peace, harmony and religious tolerance. We must renew our call and work toward the fight against every form of corruption and bigotry – religious, political and financial in Nigeria as all of these are intertwined in delivery pain and poverty to us all.

Dr Philip Idaewor and Mr Charles Eze
For and behalf of arisenigeria.
www.arisenigeria.org