Ethno - Religious Crises: Cleric Indicts Politicians
Lagos
By Yemi Akinsuyi
Nigerian leaders, have been accused of causing and fueling various religious and ethnic crises that have almost wrecked the country.
Making this accusation in Lagos yesterday at this year's Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Ramadan lecture, National Missioner of the Society, Sheikh Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad, cautioned that unless these "old politicians call for a conference where all stakeholders would be made to participate, the country would continue to swim in various crises."
Ahmad, who spoke on the topic, "Religious Crisis in Nigeria and Solutions", disclosed that as against the popular belief that there had been both religious and ethnic crises, all crises so far had, either been caused by these leaders, or fuelled by them for their continuos stay in the office.
"I want to say here without fear, that there had not been any religious or ethnic crises in the country. Take for example Warri crisis, where our past leader deemed it fit to put a local government headquarters in an unpopular area. This, and more, our leaders did to cause trouble, so that much attention would not be placed on their nefarious activities.
"These old politicians, who would do anything to stay in power, think they have all the wisdom in the world, thereby not listening to the voice of reason, but I can tell you here categorically that unless we all come together, call it sovereign national conference or any other name, the problem would persist.
"All I am saying is that stakeholders should be made to come together to discuss the way out of these mess, so that the country can move forward. Even in the holy Quoran, where there seemed to be problem between Christians, Muslims, pagan, and others, Allah brought them together to discuss the problem and eventually put a stop to it. Tell me, why is it that our leaders are afraid to talk with the people if they are not having skeleton in their cupboard", he queried.
The cleric called for economic justice, where their would be employment, and suggested that in the alternative, the unemployed should be given employment benefit, as were done in developed countries across the world.
He also solicited for the increment in the strength of the law enforcement agencies, adding that the police should be well funded as well as motivated.
In his words "If our leaders are serious about stopping crises in the country, why can't they strengthen our law enforcement agencies. How many police do we have now, compared with the number of people on the street. We have been grossly under-policed. The few ones we have, are been poorly trained, poorly attired and motivated. Increase their numbers, their pay, and pay them as at when due".
Ahmad, who also berated federal government on its inability to identify and prosecute those behind these crises, submitted that these would be the flashpoint with which the nation could move forward, adding that there should be a point, where Christians, Muslims, and traditional practitioners would be meeting from time to time on the way forward in the country.
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