The Coalition of Civil Society and
Faith Based Organization (CCSFBO) have warned that a bill which is seeking the
increase in the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the FCT and
Sharia Court of the states is dangerous to the unity of Nigeria.
The protesters who were of both
Christian and Muslim faiths warned that a bill which is seeking the increase in
jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the FCT and Sharia Court of the
states as it borders on the criminal justice system of the nation is an attempt
to create disunity in Nigeria.
According to Vanguard, the group
staged a peaceful protest from the Unity Fountain to NASS Complex, carrying
placard with various inscriptions stating:“Christians and Muslims are one”, “Do
not alter section 262 and 277”, “Don’t abuse our freedom”, “We love Nigeria, we
love our unity”, etc. The convener of the rally, Obande Gideon during his
address to newsmen faulted the leadership of the House for encouraging the
introduction of a religious doctrine into the constitution of the nation
knowing fully well that Nigeria is a multi-religious nation. He said: “With the
clear picture that some of the suggestions of the Sharia law for example;
amputation and stoning to death etc are dehumanization, we see this as a clear
and deliberate attempt to heat up the polity of this country bearing in mind
that we have suffered a lot of crisis on religious lines. “We see this as a
direct infringement on our fundamental human right as every citizen of this
great nation is entitled to the freedom of worship, we thereby see the above
move of engrafting the provisions of the sharia law into the sections 262 and
277 as a direct imposition of an Islamic doctrine on the Nigerian people and
especially the Christian Community in Nigeria. Gideon said it was surprising
that those from other religious extraction in the house and those considered as
noble people in the House of Representatives despite their religious
affiliation have kept silent over the controversial bill.
“We are totally disappointed that
the Speaker and his team of leaders in the 8th assembly will allow an amendment
that will temper with the rights of Nigerians despite the support and
solidarity he has enjoyed from Nigerians which is totally devoid of religious
or ethnic sentiments, he said. Similarly, a representative of Muslim community,
Ibrahim Dallah described the ongoing amendment of the Sharia laws as a cog in
the wheel of progress in the unity of Nigeria. In a related development,
Colonel Chris Otulana (rtd), former Director, Directorate of Nigerian Military
emanating from Churches and Mosques as a measure to check religious
fundamentalism. Chris Otulana, who spoke in an interview with NAIJ.com said on
the backdrop of pledge of allegiance Boko Haram made to the Islamic State
(ISIS) operating in Iraq and Syria, said that some youths are recruited from
religious centres, calling on parents to ensure their children are
appropriately educated.
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