Boko Haram: One last thought
The world should know that Muhammad Yusuf did not in any way condemn western education as a sin (boko) haram. Rather, he categorically posited that it is the system, which is, mixing males and females in one class, bribing for admissions, extorting students for lucrative courses and handouts and trendy and sloppy provocative dresses by […]
The world should know that Muhammad Yusuf did not in any way condemn western education as a sin (boko) haram. Rather, he categorically posited that it is the system, which is, mixing males and females in one class, bribing for admissions, extorting students for lucrative courses and handouts and trendy and sloppy provocative dresses by ladies in the campus that is unethical. However, in our campuses today, there are claims of sexual harassment of female students, cultism and money extortions, etc., as prerequisites for passing examination and getting lucrative courses like MBBS, Accountancy, LLB, etc., in many campuses; though the system is also prevalence now in polytechnics and colleges of education.
On some occasions, he also pointed out that state funds are not judiciously utilised, where in some states, executing projects are used as a conduit pipe for siphoning funds. Inflating and awarding contracts to non-existent companies is the order of the day. He further lamented by then the sponsoring of thugs, pimps and harlots to the Holy land for pilgrimages by politicians just to make their political ends meet. On these above criticisms by Yusuf, many principled writers in Nigeria and overseas pointed accusing fingers at various governments that woefully failed to deliver to their people.
Yusuf, however, did not mistake ‘modernity for westernisation as claimed by Senator Umar Dahiru sometime in September this year. Obviously, the video footage revealed that when Yusuf was asked, ‘Why are you using computers and electronic gadgets, he wittingly replied that ‘ai wannan kera ne’ meaning it is invention. Surely, it is the authorities that gave the nomenclature, ‘Boko Haram’ to his movement.
It is also pertinent to note that Yusuf did not call his impromptu unaccomplished mission ‘jihad;’ he rather reiterated that he wanted to embark on reformation, to bring this government that is full of corruption, bullying and impoverishing underprivileged Nigerians to an end. All we know is that the vanquished have left a vantage point for the government and the cynical leaders to change to good. If not, doom and gloom will surely ravage this country. May Allah (SWT) give us the wisdom to uphold the truth.
Hambagda wrote from Prisons State Headquarters, Maiduguri, 08067110014.