Katsina: Constructive engagement, please

Ordinarily, this is a none-issue as many people have used threat to their lives in order to gain popularity, but for this to have come from a sect leader portends insecurity and could cause likely disruptions  of the long peaceful coexistence that the state has been enjoying. I therefore wish to quickly call on the […]

Ordinarily, this is a none-issue as many people have used threat to their lives in order to gain popularity, but for this to have come from a sect leader portends insecurity and could cause likely disruptions  of the long peaceful coexistence that the state has been enjoying.

I therefore wish to quickly call on the cleric to consider the gravity of his allegations before going public with it. On my own part I find it difficult to believe the cleric’s claim is true, or even if at all he made the said allegation.

The state governor has really achieved a lot in the state with the support of many religious leaders, especially the Muslims, as the state is predominantly Muslim. I know for a fact that religious leaders in the state have always been consulted, sometimes taken into confidence by the state government as we have always read in the papers, over how they partner with the state government to move the state forward.

For anyone to however try to cause any friction in this regard is unfortunate; Katsina people must guard against such by shouting down such negative voices. I wish to state that I don’t believe that such comments came from the Sheik. One of the reasons for my disbelief is that even the reporter’s name was not mentioned.

It may interest people to know that the law on preaching in Katsina, which is at the heart of this controversy, has been in existence in the state since the military administration of Col Akergerge in 1991. They were the Islamic education bureau law cap 153 of 1991 and the religious preaching law 115 of the same year. The law wasn’t a new creation or Governor Shema’s creation. It was the State Assembly in their wisdom that chose to sanitize preaching activities in the state by encouraging the application of the said existing law to tally with current norms.

I was stunned when I read reports in the media quoting clerics who allege the law was promulgated just to stop them from conducting their activities in the state. This is far from the truth. In my own view, the law is well intended and not targeted at anyone.

It may interest the readers to know that when the law was being thought of wide consultations were made with stakeholders. A committee was set up comprising the Council of Ulama, Fitiyanul Islam, Jamaatu Nasril Islam, Izalatil Bidi’a as well as Centre for legal Studies, ABU and many other learned scholars. At present, the committee is working tirelessly on the said proposed law. It has not been enacted yet but few mischief makers are taking advantage of it to cause mischief. I wish to conclude that the nation’s newspapers should strive to enforce responsible reporting.

Jafaru Zakari wrote from Makudawa, Katsina state