PEACE! – THE MESSAGE FROM SOKOTO

The Nigerian Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and MWL’s Secretary General Abdullah bin Abdul Muhsin Al-Turki led the well-attended Opening Ceremony on the Friday morning (chaired by Professor Shehu Galadanci with former President Shagari, Speaker Tambuwal, Governors Wamakko, Nyako and Lamido and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah in attendance), […]

The Nigerian Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and MWL’s Secretary General Abdullah bin Abdul Muhsin Al-Turki led the well-attended Opening Ceremony on the Friday morning (chaired by Professor Shehu Galadanci with former President Shagari, Speaker Tambuwal, Governors Wamakko, Nyako and Lamido and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah in attendance), while the main discussions took place Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. The meeting was tri-lingual, as presenters spoke in Arabic, English or Hausa, with simultaneous interpretation.
The Muslim World League itself, founded in 1962, is an international non-governmental Islamic organisation based in the Holy City of Makkah. It is engaged in propagation of Islam, elucidating Islam’s principles and tenets, refuting suspicious and false allegations made against the religion. The League is also helps Muslims solve problems facing them anywhere in the world, and carry out their projects in the sphere of Da’wa, education and culture. The League, which employs all means that are not at variance with the Sharia (Islamic law) to further its aims, is well known for rejecting all acts of violence and promoting dialogue with the people of other cultures.
Speaker after speaker at the Sokoto conference harped on the meeting’s theme – Peace, and how it could be obtained and sustained in Nigeria.
In his paper, “Human Capital Development as a Catalyst for Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria: A Shariah Perspective”, Dr. Abdul-Razzaq Alaro of the University of Ilorin lamented the lack of jobs – and opportunities – for Nigerian youths who constitute a quarter of the population. He narrated the recent revelation where “six Ph.D. holders and 704 Masters’ degrees graduates applied for the position of ‘Truck Driver’ in Nigeria”. He suggested that “For Nigeria to rid itself of incessant disturbance of peace and peaceful coexistence…developing [the] skills and abilities of its citizens, especially the youth, must be given utmost priority. Government at all levels should embark on programmes targeted at drying the wellspring of potential insurgents by effectively turning every Nigerian youth into a productive member of the citizenry.”
Barrister Solomon Dalung from Jos, in his paper “Citizenship and Social Justice”, concluded that “The Nigerian Constitution should be amended to include social security…[And] in order to liberate the people from being manipulated negatively, education must be made free at all levels to every Nigerian child…Corruption as a social malice must be sincerely tackled. There is urgent need to review our penal laws to introduce capital sanctions for all corrupt practices in public offices [and] the only option opened out of the current security challenges is for government to open up sincere and genuine dialogue with all arms carrying groups because all wars end at conference tables.”
Dr. Salisu Shehu of Bayero University, Kano’s paper “Imperatives of Sustainable Peace and Reconciliation in Crisis-Ridden Communities: Expounding the Islamic Approach to Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution” suggested that “Leaders must demonstrate exemplary qualities, especially in terms of trustworthiness and truthfulness in dealing with their subjects and in the handling of state resources…; There should be designed and put in place programmes and machineries for the reorientation of the youth, particularly in the areas of leadership and social responsibility training, civic and political reorientation, multi-cultural and peace education and self-reliance.”
In his submission, “Nigeria and Bridges of Dialogue Between Muslim and Christian Worlds”, Pastor James Wuye from Kaduna posited that “Muslims and Christians can promote peace and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria if we do not only talk about peace but work hard towards the securing of peace and endeavour to live in peace with one another. To collectively do this, we require talking with each other as we do now. It is in talking with each other that we can cooperate and collaborate, exercise positive tolerance, and constructively engage one another to help Nigeria see itself and its people as a unity in variety. That unity can then link up with the common humanity of the human family worldwide.”
Dr. Mukhtar Maishanu of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto’s presentation “Development and Challenges of Islamic Institutions in Nigeria” also called for the “Intensification of enlightenment among Muslims; need for exchange of ideas and information among Muslim nations; and technical cooperation and encouraging of practical knowledge especially among the Muslim youth.”
Other presentations, available on the MWL’s Sokoto Conference website mwlsokoto2013.org, included those by Shaikh Ahmad Lemu, Bishop Kukah, Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Archbishop Josiah Idowu Fearon, Dr. Aminuddin Abubakr, Bishop John Joseph Hayab, Dr. Fadoul Khalud Aduko (the Chadian Director of the MWL in Nigeria), Shaikh Is’haq Muhammad Rabiu, Dr. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, Dr. Al Mukashifi Taha Al-Kabbashi (from Sudan), Dr. Isa Muhammad Maishanu and Dr. Ibrahim Jallo.
The Conference Communique (Al Bayan al Khitamiy) itself did not disappoint. It reinforced the papers presented and the lively discussions that ensued after every session. The observations contained in the Communique included that “Islam recognises the immutable principle of plurality and the fact that differences among people are universal and natural; that the differences inherent in human nature should be exploited to bring about peaceful co-existence; that proper understanding and recognition of such differences are pre-requisites for mutual relations and interactions; that Islam stands for moderation in its worldview – its belief system, acts of worship and mutual interaction;
“It was further observed that justice, fairness and equity are universal values that engender peace, progress and patriotism; that there is the need for continuous dialogue among various religious and ethnic groups to enhance the spirit of cooperation and understanding among them; that Nigerians should preach and live by the noble moral teachings of their religions; that lame excuses of the freedom of opinion that justify insulting sacred symbols of any religion which engineer crises should be abandoned; that there is the need to revive the sound peaceful historical relations that existed between Muslims and other Nigerians from time immemorial.
“From the above observations, the participants resolved that Muslims should strive to uphold the principle of moderation not only in their relation with others, but in all aspects of their lives; that universal values of justice, equality, and fairness are basic in dealing with all human beings and should be well entrenched and upheld in societal conducts; that mutual dialogue should be encouraged by providing an enabling environment and using the best available means; that preachers of all religions should instil in their followers the spirit of tolerance (in this context, negative stereotypes and phobia about others should be eschewed); that all Nigerians should strive to uphold the moral teachings of their faiths;
“It was further resolved that the freedom of expression and of opinion should be cautiously used to protect sanctity of religious values, institutions and symbols of others; and that, historically, people of Nigeria have lived peacefully and harmoniously, and had tolerated one another from the time immemorial, so that sprit should be emphasised to enhance peaceful co-existence.”
Finally, we end with Dr. Alaro’s quotation of the late Prof. Sam Aluko: “The poor Nigerians can no longer sleep because they are hungry, and the rich Nigerians can no longer sleep because the poor Nigerians are awake.”