This is not funny any more. The Governor of Zamfara State has gone too far this time. The Nigerian journalists, pundits and opinion heads that are amused by the latest disgraceful transgression and act of ignorance, malignant and disrespect of Nigerian women, exhibited by the Governor should stop encouraging him and speak out vehemently in opposition to such surly behavior.

According to a news report, the Governor, while on a visit to Edo State refused a handshake from the wife of Edo State Governor. It was reported that the wife of the Governor, in accordance with the Edo culture and custom appeared before their august guests with presents. She would handshake the guests prior to presentation of her gifts. It was reported that when the Governor of Islamic state of Zamfara was approached, in the presence of other dignitaries and the press, took the gift and refused her offer of handshake. The news report contended that one of his aides attempted to put a spin on the incident by arguing that the Governor’s action was in accordance with his Islamic belief as being practiced at his home state.

A rational mind would ask whether Edo State is in Zamfara State, or a local government within the confines of the Islamic State of Zamfara? In the opinion of this writer, the Edo State Governor’s wife should have snatched back the gift, or to an extreme, throw the gift on the floor and let him or one of his aides pick it up. Neither occurred and those present laughed it off. Let us pose a hypothetical scenario for a moment. Supposing that Pakistan is still under the leadership of Ms. Bhutto and that Governor Sani was on a trade mission to Pakistan. Supposing that one of the requirements for such mission is to meet with the Prime Minister. Would the Governor abandon his trade mission that may bring in food to the table of the man on the street of Zamfara State because his belief forbid him from having a handshake with the Prime Minister who happens to be a woman? Conversely, would the Governor swallow his pride and do what is good for the people of his state, buckle under and shake the hand of the Prime Minister?

The Governor’s behavior since his election to the zenith of Zamfara state government has exposed his ignorance and lack of sensitivity towards women. His idea of uplifting the standard of life for his people especially, women is to lower the state dowry price from as high as $1,000 to $10 presuming that men who cannot afford to marry more wives could do so. The assumption is that by getting married to men, women’s problem would be solved. Nice try Mr. Governor on this obfuscated economic plank. However, this is a tip on the iceberg – the kind of program that Nigerians needed at this time of their economic, political and social development is one which would galvanize and transcend the economic woos of women into full employment and wealth.

In effect, the Governor, it seems does not keep abreast of the needs of the Nigerian people. According to a research survey by Margit Cleveland titled "Acceptance of Sharia Law in Nigeria," published in the RMS Media Service on December 1999, it found that the 10 most important issues that Nigerian people would like the government to resolve are: unemployment = 78%, poverty = 68%, inflation = 42%, power failure = 34%, free education = 33%, Niger-Delta crises = 18%, scarcity of fuel = 10%, restructuring military = 6%, corruption = 2%, and armed robbery = 2%.

Instead of the above-mentioned priorities, the Governor has pursued divisive and autocratic policies that divide the country along religious, ethnic and gender lines. He has argued that the people of Zamfara State that elected him into office mandated the pursuit of theocracy. The rule of law where "God is the absolute ruler whose words must be obeyed absolutely, without discussion, without doubt, without questions; we cannot plea bargain with God; nor can we override God’s veto." ("Is Islam compatible with Democracy and Human right?" by Institute for the Secularization of Islamic Society (ISIS) dated 10/28/00). See Koran (Sura iv.59 and 83)

One may wonder why a man born by a woman would keep women down and put them on the back seat for the sake of religion transposed into state policy and good government. Women residing in the Islamic state of Zamfara were discriminated against contrary to the prescriptions of the oath of office sworn by the Governor stating that:

"… I will discharge my duties … faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law… that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental objective and Directive Principles of the State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria … not to endanger the continuance of Federal Government in Nigeria, that I will not allow my personal interest to influence my office conduct or my official decision … (will) preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria … and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria." (1999 Nigerian Constitution).

Having sworn to uphold and preserve the law as written in the Nigerian Constitution, the Governor’s actions upon assumption of office were contradictory to the tenets of the law he was supposed to uphold. The first legislation that he sponsored was to adopt a strict Islamic law known as the Sharia Law. Under the Sharia doctrine, women must be separated from men, they must cover their face when they venture outside, they should not wear a makeup, which would attract men’s attention, and they are not allowed to participate in some sporting activities such as soccer because they are unIslamic. It is generally accepted that a ratio of two women equals to one man.

In Pakistan where similar Islamic Sharia law is in effect since 1991, when a woman is raped, she must provide an eyewitness. Failure to do so would result in being charged with adultery, which is punishable by strokes of cane in the public and perhaps some jail time. Where in the world would a rapist who is busy devising his wicked plan, call upon people to observe him commit a crime? Wouldn’t that amount to self-incrimination? According to the Middle East Women’s Studies Review, v8 (7), summer 1998, "the testimony of a woman is only worth half that of a man."

Perhaps the Governor should answer some questions. First, it is important to know that Sharia law does not afford women the opportunity to travel abroad without a strict consent of their husband. But what would happen when married citizens of Islamic State of Zamfara traveled abroad as a family, but due to unforeseen circumstances caused them to divorce in a foreign land. Supposing that both adults remarry to different individuals. When she returns to Zamfara where Islamic law is in effect, would she be tried for adultery?

The law that the Governor aspires is undemocratic. ISIS argued that "… Islamic god is not a Democrat; we cannot get rid of Him as we can a human being representative elected by the people in a Representative Democracy (as being practiced in Nigeria). … Autocracy and Islam are far more natural bedfellows than Islam and democracy." Sharia is the epitome of Islamic civilization. Its subjugation rests on the interpretation of orthodox teachings. In essence, the Governor created two doctrines of which one is jealously guided by the "Ulama" oligarchs (the Islamic teacher) and on the other hand, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution prescribed for Nigerians.

An ideal human being is perceived to enjoy certain safeguards such as moral and religious choice, self-fulfilling, equality – all of which is embedded in the 1999 Nigerian constitution. But wait a minute, how about the belief established by the Sharia Law with regard to non-Moslems who are viewed as "dhimmi." A dihimmi cannot enjoy the privileges accorded to Moslems. Do you believe in Apostasy Mr. Governor – the ability of a Moslem in a free society such as being practiced in Nigeria, to change his or her religious affiliation – say from Islam to Christianity? Would such action run contrary to the Sharia Law as is adopted in your state?

The governor should acquaint himself to the stipends of existing International laws most of which Nigeria is a signatory to. The world operates as a global village and as such; international laws adopted by international agencies or organizations, both now and in the past decade are effectively utilized globally without boundaries today. Nigerian economy was crippled when the Commonwealth of Nations imposed sanction on Nigeria due to the dictatorship government of Sani Abacha, which abused the human rights of the Nigerian citizens. It is therefor imperative that we refresh the Governor’s mind and the need to comply with international laws.

We would start with the oldest human rights law in the book. At 3:00 A. M. on December 10, 1948, the United Nation General Assembly, which Nigeria was represented at the time by Great Britain, signed and adopted "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" resolution 217 A (111) articles 1,6,7,16,and 26 in particular established what constitutes human rights of citizens, a contravene to Zamfara State Sharia Law.

Furthermore, on April 23, 1984, Nigeria became one of the 147 State signatories to the Convention to eliminate all forms of Discrimination against Women. On June 15, 1985, the Nigerian government ratified the convention. It is important to note that among its requirements, Part 1, Article 1 states that "the term ‘discrimination against women shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or propose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil and any other field." (United Nation Archives)

Subsequent United Nations’ conferences at Jakarta, Indonesia in June 1994, the Fourth United Nations’ World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in September 1995 have strongly reaffirmed the human right of women irrespective of country of domicile. Other conferences such as United Nations’ World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna resulted in the adoption of Vienna Declaration in 1993. (Amnesty International 1995).

Closer to home, the Organization of African Unity Charter stipulates that "freedom, equality, justice and dignity are" "sine qua non" to achieving the aspiration of the African people. (University of Minnesota – Human Rights Library). African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which was adopted on June 27, 1981, Article 3 states that "every individual shall be equal before the law. Every individual shall be entitled to equal protection of the law." This stipulations were found wanting and absent in the current system of theocratic Islamic government of Governor Sani. By the way, Nigeria signed this Charter on August 31, 1982, ratified it on June 22, 1983 and adopted it on July 22, 1983.

In essence, Nigeria is one of the members of international organization, which agreed to adhere to the tenets of human rights of all citizens, especially those residing within the confines of its boundaries. The governor may be breaking the law when he persuaded his legislature, because of instant political expediency and gratification to adopt a law that is contrary to all the existing laws and international charters that Nigeria is a signatory of.

All available and existing laws to date affirm an already known conclusion that the rights of citizens must be protected. Governor Sani’s apartheid policy in Zamfara State is arbitrary, disenfranchise women, capricious, and contrary to Nigerian and International laws. All available data affirm that there is a high rate of illiteracy among women compared to their male counterparts in Nigeria. This discrepancy dates to anathema practice perpetuated by men through varying instruments one of which is religion.

The Governor's actions regarding adoption of Islamic law is supported by the 1981 Paris Islamic Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration was supposed to contradict the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as numerated by the United Nation. It enjoys wide audience from mainly Islamic nations such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Both nations and others like them adopted Sharia Law, which in effect limited the rights of none Moslems and women within their domain.

It is incumbent on every well meaning Nigerian to work towards the safeguard of human right, freedom to practice one’s religion and to operate without undue governmental restrictions. These are part of the guarantees imbedded in the 1999 Nigerian constitution. For the current dispensation to flourish, there must be what ISIS recognized as "critical discussion, rational thought, by listening to another point of view, by compromising, by changing one’s mind, by tentative proposals which are submitted to criticism, by testing of theories by trying to refute them." That is what Nigeria need today and tomorrow if it would survive in the 21^st century. The current system of law as adopted by the Islamic State of Zamfara is capricious and an affront to women and religious minorities and must be stopped.

the writer wrote in from Illinois, Chicago