Group Rejects Call For US Interference In Nigeria’s Sharia Matters

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the call by a senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr Ebenezer Obadare, on the United States of America (USA) to be involved in Nigeria’s Sharia matters.

Obadare had urged the United States to pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to abolish Sharia law in Nigeria and disband Hisbah.

However, an Islamic human rights organisation, in a statement issued on Thursday by its executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described Obadare’s call as crossing the red line.

It also noted that the call raises more questions than answers about the United States’ intention.

”The call was made during a joint House briefing in response to US President Donald Trump’s directive and designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

“This call raises more questions than answers and casts doubts on the intention of the United States in its interest in Nigeria’s war on terror. It amounts to surrendering Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“It constitutes an affront on the Nigerian constitution, our ground norm. It is therefore a no-go area for either the US or the Nigerian government.

“Obadare’s call is mischievous, reactionary and outlandish. It is also undemocratic, neocolonial and imperialistic. As usual, Nigerian Christians who opposed the Sharia ab initio and were defeated in due process have now gone through the back door to use the US to abolish it. It will not happen. Obadare’s approach is not only cowardly, but it is also immoral and despicable.

‎‎”Sharia is the Muslims’ way of life. It cannot be separated from Islam. We fought hard to establish it, and its foundation is deeply entrenched in legality, constitutionality and democratic values.

“The moment anyone attempts to touch our Sharia, we begin to see him seeking to eliminate Islam in its totality. Our advice is this. Don’t go there. It is the red line.’’

‎‎”The greatest challenge our government will face when it starts tampering with Sharia is that it will lose the support of liberal and mainstream Muslims who have been opposing the terrorists. Ditto for the hisbah.’’