When the idea of unity is rubbished

Nigeria is an entity blessed with all shades of cultures, peoples and religions, most often proving to be a combustible mix, especially when stoked by intolerance. Most often than not, religious disharmony between the Christian and Islamic faiths has, particularly in Northern Nigeria, placed a wedge amongst a people with commonly shared traditions and aspirations; […]

Nigeria is an entity blessed with all shades of cultures, peoples and religions, most often proving to be a combustible mix, especially when stoked by intolerance. Most often than not, religious disharmony between the Christian and Islamic faiths has, particularly in Northern Nigeria, placed a wedge amongst a people with commonly shared traditions and aspirations; of becoming “a nation bound in freedom, peace and unity” as contained in our national anthem.
Thus, finding a panacea to these incessant conflicts is a necessity for all Nigerians and in this regard, a burden lies on the government to keenly pursue policies that would protect all religions within the space of our constitution. The Kaduna State Government recently published the findings of the Judicial Committee of Inquiry (JCI) after a remarkable public discourse on religious conflict between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army, the report containing the culpability or otherwise of the principal actors were made and recommendations given.
From the reactions of die-hard religious fanatics and bigots, It may seem that this report by the JCI and its recommendations has not gone down well as such, the mercenaries and foot soldiers of disunity and chaos are now on the loose, in their bid to scupper or jettison the recommendations of that report from the JCI. The communiqué of the Supreme Council For Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Kaduna chapter announced by Yusuf Sambo Rigachikun seeks to further widen the gulf between Muslim Ummah.
The communiqué sought the Federal Government’s assistance to “ban Shi’a Islam, from the wide spectrum of sects.” The disingenuity of the Supreme Council For Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) to co-opt the Nigerian government to fight the fight of foreign entities of which the Wahhabi-infested Sharia Council is part of, becomes a perplexing one. The constitutional guarantee of the freedom of religious belief is irreversible. 
It then leaves a sour taste in the mouth, listening and watching entities like the SCN regurgitating a call to ban sects. This further begs the question: Whose fight is the SCSN fighting?
It is pertinent for the Federal Government to keep an eye open over these organizations and their leader’s utterances in order to put them in check. His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto should in good counsel provide a window of dialogue between Muslim groups in the country.
Jatau writes from Rigachikun, Kaduna.