THE outbreak of religious riots in parts of northern Nigeria was rather unfortunate. We condemn the loss of lives and the destruction of property. The outbreak was believed to be the handiwork of a group that claims an Islamic identity - Boko Haram - which is under the leadership of one Muhammed Yusuf. The group, by its name, is said to be opposed to western education which it regards as haram, something that is forbidden and thus prohibited. The choice of the word haram is instructive as it may well stand for the blurring of the threshold between haram and halal in the conduct of public affairs by those who engage in political theft.
To those who are ignorant of the core tenets of the religion of Islam, the claim by the group readily fits into a mindset that is highly prejudiced against Islam. The religion has always been portrayed as backward, conservative and violent. We would like to say that, on five grounds, Islam cannot but be western education-friendly. Of course, we are not ruling out the possibility of religious extremism on the part of those who may be misguided and impervious to Nigeria's diversity along ethno-religious cleavages but a purely religious explanation requires scrutiny.
Indeed, it was not coincidental that the first revelation to Prophet Mohammad was Iqra which means Read. Muslims are enjoined to read in the name of Allah, the creator. And no limit was set to what is to be read. Secondly, the contributions of the Islamic civilisation to western world are substantial - is it the numerals which had an Arabic origin, mathematics, philosophy and logic, science and technology.
Thirdly, Islam is one religion that cannot be practised without being knowledgeable about its tenets. If, as it has been naively argued, the religion is opposed to western education, how could it have enjoyed a global spread and become the fastest religion in the U.S.A. Prophet Mohammad enjoins Muslims to travel as far as China for purposes of education and not to restrict access to education on the basis of gender age or ethnicity. Fourthly, the madrasa, as an Islamic institution was once widespread and had served as a platform for disseminating knowledge generally and not religious knowledge per se. Fifthly, the Qur'an which is the main guide to Muslims is an encyclopedia of science, technology, reproductive health issues and useful knowledge in a general sense.
We, at the Islamic Network for Development, are of the view that government must penetrate the veil of the outward religious garb of the Boko Haram if it is to come to terms with the crisis. The group's rejection of western education could be because of the failure of political leaders who had been exposed to western education to respond satisfactorily to the grassroots existential needs. The madrasa system, which normally withdraws the boys from the streets, has been dislodged. But the madrasa even helps to re-channel material and food resources from surplus to deficit households. All these have largely gone into ruins. The gates of the houses of the leading political and religious elite have become shut to the almajir. Poverty, in the midst of plenty, has been severe with every leap in oil revenue. Poverty has been more severe in the states where the riots have broken out.
To our mind, government officials including the police must stop the massacre as they are enjoined to pursue more inclusive policies that would end exclusionary practices which are alienating, promotes aggression, despondency and disillusionment all of which readily pre-dispose the marginalised towards violent behaviour. No one is born to be violent, violence reflects dearth of investment in social capital.
People's rights as citizens must be restored. The riots may well be the outcome of rapacious dispossession of political and economic rights that had been unrelenting over the years. Some might have been scandalised by the immoral political movements without any remorse from one political party to the other. There is emerging a generalised frustration in the land. The riots must not be seen as isolated or disconnected from our reckless political and economic practices. Political actors should search beyond the smokescreen so that they do not indulge in self-delusion of a patently religious diagnosis.
We urge government to restore hope to the masses of our people by re-building civil institutions of education and health among others. Of course, the need for enlightenment is clear so as to draw people away from the realm of socialisation toward violence.
* Professor Olurode and Alhaja Oshodi sent this piece on behalf of the Islamic Network for Development
