Nigeria: Islamic Leader Faults Gadaffi's Outburst

"We should not be divided into two. This is because we are brothers and sisters. What we have in Jos is more ethnic than religious because no religion tolerates killing one another for no just cause." [Ahmadiyya]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: AllAfrica.com | Nigeria
By Bisiriyu Olaoye | Lagos | March 18, 2010

Lagos — AHMADIYYA Muslim Jama'at Nigeria has described as uncalled for a statement credited to the Libyan President Mmammar Gaddafi calling for the splitting of Nigeria into two to avoid further bloodshed between muslims and Christians.

According to the Islamic group, what Nigeria needs is true federalism, adding that the bloody crises in various parts of the North are more ethnic than religious.


The Head of Ahmadiyya in Nigeria, Dr. Moshood Adenrele Fashola, stated these in Lagos yesterday while speaking on the 60th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Jama'at stated for April 2 and 4 this year at Ahmadiyya Centenary Khilafat Estate, Karu Abuja.

On Tuesday, Gadaffi, in a speech to a group of students, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), called for the partitioning of Nigeria into two to stop bloodshed and burning of places of worship.

He also praised the example of India and Pakistan where he said partition saved many lives.

In a swift reaction this yesterday, Ahmadiyya said: "We should not be divided into two. This is because we are brothers and sisters. What we have in Jos is more ethnic than religious because no religion tolerates killing one another for no just cause.

"It is evil to do so and this should be condemned outright. We should learn to tolerate each other. He who kills by the sword should die by the sword," he stated.

Dr. Fashola, who said Sovereign National Conference (SNC) was inevitable to move the country forward, however, stated that if splitting into two would bring progress, he would support it.

"With good governance, we can unite. The problem is we don't practice true federalism. If God wishes that we divide into two, we can do so. Europe broke up before coming back to become European Union (EU). If that will solve the problem, so be it.

"But I'm sure that being one will give economic power to accelerate development. That is why I support the call for the Sovereign National Conference, which is inevitable to move the country forward. We should come together to iron out of differences.

"Some people politicize the Jos crisis to divide people along ethnic and religious bases. MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe were voted for in 1993 by all geo-political zones without considering that they were both muslims.

A whole country appreciated Murtala Muhammed when he died.

"Now, the politicians are using partisan politics to politicize everything. We are one people, good brothers and we should come together for justice; nobody should divide us," Dr. Fashola said.

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