Sharia: Sense before slogan
by
THE public caning of 17-year old Bariya Ibrahim Magazu for allegedly having pre-marital sex in Zamfara State has attracted commentaries from local and international critics and human rights groups. It is horrifying that while sane humanity are championing protection of the girl-child, the emancipation and empowerment of the female folks, some religious zealots are making mockery of the attainment of a new millennium and another century where the globe is advocating innovative changes in the field of human relations, science and technology, a world where love and respect of human rights are the prerogative and label of enlightened souls.
One is tempted to ask if caning a teenage girl publicly would instill genuine moral discipline in her and chasten other unmarried teenage females in sharia states? That sharia has even survived till now says much about the enlightenment and socio-psychological stature of the Northern youths. Why have they remained mute in the face of religious tyranny and hypocrisy? Why do they allow a dying class of selfish, myopic, feudalistic and debased leaders bring them back ages and keep them under a law which not only infringes on their rights as mortals, but do not recognise that humans are fallible?
Magazu’s dilemma and the caning of Obi, a non-Muslim Igbo trader for allegedly fraternizing with alcohol in Kano, has exhumed the question of superiority of the Nigerian State and Constitution as well as the legality of religious restrictions in a democratic Nigeria.
Much energy, creative and intellectual resources and man hour have gone down the drain over the existence of sharia. It is a curious paradox that with the South’s claim to be academic inferiors.
It is laughable that the legion of so-called mystics, philosophical, intellectual, literary and policy gurus of Southern origin have remained gypped and have ran out of brain waves as they are unable to fathom a way to neutralising the sharia venom and are only waiting for it to ‘fizzle out’.
If sharia is a riddle, then its conquest must be a more complex, yet, sophisticated and morally acceptable riddle. But, again, the answer to sharia cannot be flaunted on the pages of newspapers or in the electronic media, doing such would only mystify further the perpetrators and provide them with more logistics to perfect their ploy to destabilise our democracy. Undoubtedly, sharia’s introduction is a ruse by the selfish clique of power-drunk individuals in the North and their fanatical foreign collaborators to affirm that, though, not physically holding the reins of power, they remain in firm control and are superior to what they see to be an infidel-administered Federal Republic of Nigeria and its statute laws, hence, they can decide how their region would be governed. So, they send hearts into mouths in the South and put the entire country on the run with that suits their disguised, degenerate fancies.
Why, again, do we allow these selfish few in the North to suffocate Nigeria’s secularity and pollute the sanctity of our sovereignty with a moribund religious joker?
Why do we exhibit defeatist attitude with our calls on the Obasanjo regime to make its position known on sharia when even the feeble minded knows such categorical position would suit sharia fundamentalists as it would be seen as Christian opposition?
True, Nigeria needs restructuring. Can’t we achieve this through ingenious, non-violent and silent means which would jolt the sharia advocates and teach them a lesson in intellectual warfare? Have, we (Southerners and Middle-belters), for once thought that the various summits and resolutions where sharia are tabled are signs of nervousness, acceptance of the selfish Northern oligarchys political superiority and a declaration of helplessness to the silent warfare being waged by the few in the North?
The key to sharia is simple it is important to mention that this key would only be effective only if we apply strictly some socio-moral codes in playing the conspirators at their own game. These involve giving them bales of their own trick without contravening law of sanctity of human life, the Constitution of the nation and without engaging in inter-religious/inter-tribal violence, but, yet, protect the unity and sovereignty of our dear country. Violence, secession will only give the enemies of the nation the satisfaction that while they never played any positive role towards the independence, growth, development and socio-economic stature of Nigeria they were party to its disintegration and this we must not allow to be. Let us apply more sense before making slogans.
The primary key to sharia cannot be discussed on the pages of newspapers.
However, playing Sharia at its game is not like engaging in regional warfare as that would be cowardly and a sign of human weakness. Playing sharia at its game is not ostracizing the Northern talakawas and the almajiris. They are innocent and ignorant of the true intent of their self-centred leaders.
Hit for hit with sharia is not enacting opposing religious laws (like the ‘Mosaic/Canon laws). Or for non-sharian state governments to promulgate laws prohibiting/refusing entry or the residence in their states of any handicapped northemer or beggar of Northern origin or that those Northern Muslims that commit crimes against the sharia in non-sharia states are sent to the sharia courts in the north for judgement.
Again, neutralising sharia is not like passing laws enforcing sharia in localities with large concentration of Northern Muslims in non-sharia states and appointing non-Muslims (atheists/traditionalists/ Christians) who are well-versed in Islamic law to act as judges to prevent/dissuade potential escapees to come to the south and engage in anti-sharia vices.
Wit for wit as battle against sharia, one must emphasise, is not like non-sharia governments (in the spirit of religious harmony and true brotherhood) constituting sharia-enforcing/monitor squads to rove round the brothels (low rated and five stars) and drinking parlors in search of top officials of sharia governments or their wards who fled their states to a ‘buffer’ state to engage in debauchery, prostitution and other vices.
The reader must not be tempted to assume that, that stated above are what the writer meant when he talks of playing the sharia at its game, neither are they the keys to Sharia.
But the truth, one repeats, is that the answer to Sharia is not a play of malice, but that of constructiveness and positivity. The riddle should be solved with a more sophisticated one that would expose the inanities of being bad losers and refusal to flow with the global tide of political and socio-religious reformation.
The unmentioned key to sharia would, no doubt, be aided if some issues are resolved. Though, one resists the temptation of discussing the effective vaccine for the sharia plague in this write-up, one would gladly add that sharia could as well fizzle out if:
*The Federal and State governments and political office holders of the non-sharia states prove worthy to their duties of making life meaningful to the people by providing employment, basic amenities and infrastructures and assuring that the rule of law is supreme.
*Moral, social and public institutions brace up to the challenges of guiding the youths and adults alike towards the path of righteousness, responsibility and chaste way of life.
*Official and public corruption is at a minimal.
*Security is provided for the average citizens.
*Public and political office holders are accountable, blameless and efficient in the discharge of their duties.
*Justice, equity, accountability and respect for rights are the watchwords of the non-sharia states and federal government.
The greater key to the sharia riddle, the not-to-be-discussed in- the-media, answer to sharia is blowing in the winds and roaring in our psyche if only we can exert our senses vigorously to the simplicity of the solution. If only we can develop the "third eye", then the controversy of a religious law would be burned permanently.
The sharia portends danger if handled with ferocity and recklessly but if played at its game with or without the aids enumerated earlier, victory will be the gain.
The key is simple. Here are passwords to the clue: The key is often wrongly employed by Western nations, hence, their numerous failure at its use. Alchemists use it. Long John Silver in Treasure Island had plenty of it, but employed it negatively, so, he failed and Lord Jeffrey Archer, the famous British author, in one of his short stories, used the solution positively. If these institutions and characters are studied by like minds, concerned individuals and institutions with the "third eye" and if the code (in them) are sighted and broken, then the problems of sharia and the numerous ones facing Nigeria would be solved, and it would be Uhuru for the nation.
But should we handle issues the way we presently do by not applying more sense before we chant slogans then we would become political and intellectual lubbers and remain marooned in the island of international mediocrity. We have become so scared and furious at the advent of the Sharia that we have failed to look beyond our noses for peaceful and non-violent antidotes to the religious virus that has clinched the soul of the feudal lords in the north. Peace loving, like-minded Nigerians, sense, please, before slogans.
Mr. Young wrote in from Lagos.