An Islamic Group known as Jamatut Tajdidul Islam (JTI) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to properly and positively address the issues of grave concern to the citizens as a matter of great urgency to avoid national unrest.
The call was made in a press statement issued by the group to state its position on the proposed nationwide hunger protest, and the statement was signed by its national president (Mudir Arm), Shiekh Abubakar.
The statement said economic hardship was brought about by high inflation rates, the dwindling value of the naira, and the removal of subsidies. It also noted that rampant insecurity caused daily losses in life and property and prevented economic pursuits and the free movement of citizens.
“The ordinary citizens of Nigeria are under daily threat of hunger, economic hardships, displacement, abductions, killings, maiming, and loss of properties, among others. If the government is not sensitive to these realities, the very roots of our existence as a nation can be challenged, and peace will become elusive in our country,” the statement revealed.
However, Jamatut Tajdidul Islam raised suspicions against the agitators and promoters of the hunger protest and described their failure to present their identities as a sign of insincerity and hiding an agenda.
The group called on its members and the general public to desist from participating in the anticipated August demonstration to avoid jeopardising the life and property of Nigerians.
“According to our understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence, peaceful demonstrations (known as Muzahara), industrial action (also called strike), and peaceful rallies conducted to demand certain rights from the government or to protest certain policies or to call for what is Islamically right and good or to refute and denounce what is Islamically wrong and evil are permissible.
“However, those calling for the 10 days nationwide demonstration are faceless and have failed to answer many questions. Therefore, the agitation and the demonstration remained questionable, and Islam did not allow one to participate in activities that you have no certainty about.
“The leadership of JTI does not support the participation of its members or any other person in the planned demonstration. As the sponsors of the protest are not known, their real motives and mode of operation cannot be verified.
“As the leaders of the agitation for the demonstration are unknown, the participants will not know from whom to take instructions. This will make the process vulnerable to hijacking by people with sinister motives, which may turn it into bloody and destructive.
“According to the narratives available on social media, some commentators are referring to the protest as ‘a revolution’ to topple the government, while others use such terminologies as ‘week of fury.’ All these are pointers to the fact that the protest could lead to loss of lives and properties,” JTI stated.
