Muslim-Muslim agenda alone can’t fix Nigeria’s problems — Shari’ah Council

THE Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, SCSN, said yesterday that while the idea of a Muslim-Muslim agenda has gained ground in the country’s political discourse, it cannot resolve the multitude of challenges confronting Nigeria.

President of the Council, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiytullah, who stated this in his address at the annual pre-Ramadan meeting of the Majlis Ash Shurah in Kaduna on Tuesday, emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to address the country’s existential challenges.

The meeting brought together Muslim leaders and organizations to deliberate on pressing national issues.

Addressing a diverse audience from various parts of the country, Sheikh Abdurrasheed highlighted the turbulent and unpredictable times characterized by fear, insecurity, poverty, mutual distrust, corruption, and despondency.

He underscored the paramount challenge of confronting these issues while instilling hope and striving for success, security, and prosperity.

The Sheikh disclosed that the upcoming Ramadan meeting would delve into retrospective analysis and future prospects of Shari’ah implementation in Nigeria.

Reflecting on past meetings, particularly those emphasizing the Muslim-Muslim agenda in Nigeria’s democracy, the Sheikh urged the federal government to address corruption, economic policies, and the proposed state police critically.

He urged continuous self-introspection, repentance, and constructive engagement with leaders to foster accountability and uphold justice.

Sheikh Abdurrasheed said: “It will be recalled that our last two Pre-Ramadhan meetings, held in  March, 2022, and the 13th of March, 2023, in Osogbo and Abuja respectively, the primary focus then,  was on ensuring unity of muslims and keeping alive the Muslim-Muslim agenda in our democracy, with a majority muslim population.

“Alhamdulillah, with the grace and blessing of Allah (SWT) the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in our political life has been emphatically established.

“But of course, the idea of a Muslim-Muslim agenda, which we believe is the right of the muslim majority in a democracy, is not on its own, a solution to the myriad of challenges facing our country.

“We are indeed facing near existential challenges, the resolution of which will require more than half hearted efforts from all of us. Justice as embodied in the teaching of Islam is the key that opens the doors of prosperity in any society.”

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, the Council called on the Ulamah to convey messages of repentance, unity, and resilience to the Muslim community.

He stressed the need to revitalize Shari’ah implementation and exemplify high standards of methodology during Tafseer activities.

Regarding the political situation in Niger Republic, the Council expressed gratitude for lifting sanctions and urged diplomatic engagement for regional stability.

The Sheikh highlighted the importance of cooperation among Islamic scholars and ethnic groups, particularly the Hausa and Fulani, to address socio-economic challenges collectively.

Sheikh Abdurrasheed vehemently rejected the ‘atheistic western agenda’ and condemned Israeli oppression against Palestinians.

He said:  “We should in unison, keep appealing to our governments to take concrete steps to address the issue of corruption, leakages and wasteful spending. Corruption is like a cancer, which destroys everything noble and undermines the principles of good governance.

“There is no doubt that we cannot reasonably expect solutions to issues bedeviling our lives until our leaders summon the political will to address the issue of corruption, whenever, wherever and whoever is involved,” Sheikh Abdurrasheed added.