Renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has asserted that only Muslims can effectively fight terrorism.
Gumi spoke at the graduation of students of the Centre for the Study of Christian–Muslim Relation in Kaduna yesterday.
The Centre was founded in 2004 by the Secretary General of the Global Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Idowu-Fearon, who was then the Archbishop of the Kaduna Diocese of the Anglican Church.
Gumi said it was unfortunate that when Saudi Arabia wanted Nigeria to join a coalition of Muslim countries to fight terrorism, Nigerian Christians saw the move as a plot to Islamise the country.
According to him, one of the problems of religious intolerance, especially in the North is ignorance and poverty from both adherents of the two religions. He said mutual suspicion between the two religious groups has denied the country the opportunity to benefit from other countries.
According to him, “Saudi Arabia, which is the heart of Islam, wanted a coalition of Muslim state to fight terrorism. Terrorism destroys Muslims more than any other people. This terrorism is mentioned 1,400 years before it happens. The prophet said before the end of time you will find youths, claiming Islam, using the Qur’an, killing people. So it is even mentioned in Islamic books that terrorism is coming.”
“Fighting terrorism, I am telling you, can only be effectively be done by the Muslim themselves. So when you see Muslims coming together to fight terrorism, then you hear Christians voices saying Nigeria should not join this force, because if we join this force, it means we are Islamising Nigeria. This is wrong!”
Speaking further, he said “We need the Muslims to come together to fight this terrorism, but we don’t get the cooperation of our Christian citizens because of lack of understanding of what Islam is all about. We want the Christians to open up their mind allow Muslims (to fight terrorism).
“This coalition, which Saudi Arabia is trying to put together, is to fight extremism and fanaticism. Also, Saudi Arabia is aware that the poverty in the region is one of the contributory factors, therefore they want to come in, build schools, hospitals, lift up the economic status of the nation.
“But we find that in Nigeria, we don’t have our Christian brothers assisting us in this type of association with other Muslims so that we can eradicate terrorism. I am happy that a centre like this is created that will promote the relationship between Christians and Muslims,” the Islamic scholar added.
Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who was the special guest at the occasion, urged the graduands to use their knowledge to advance the cause of peace and harmony.
“My message to all the graduating students today, is that you should use your knowledge to advance the course of peace and harmony. Let us all resolve to strengthen a constituency of religious people that are truly religious and strongly committed to upholding the right of every citizen, celebrating our diversity and upholding peace and harmony in our state.
“Your job will not be easy, people in this state prefer extremist to those that search for common ground. You will be more popular when you adopt extremist stand, but your training and education should help you search for common grounds in our two religions. There is a lot in common,” the governor said.
He commended the founder of the Centre, the Most Rev. Idowu-Fearon for the establishment of the centre, noting that the centre is an important intervention in promoting interfaith relations.
“We thank the Secretary General of the Global Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Idowu-Fearon for promoting peace and harmony in our state for the decades he served as the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Kaduna and the legacies he has left behind for improving relations between the two major religions. The work being done by the Kaduna Centre for Muslim–Christian relations is an important intervention in promoting interfaith relations,” the governor said.
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