A prominent civil Rights platform – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION
OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal and unconstitutional for
President Muhammadu Buhari to attend a summit exclusively convoked for
Islamic nations under the aegis of organization of Islamic
cooperation(OIC).
It is the contention of the Rights advocacy body that Nigeria’s
presence in such a body offends sections 10 and 42 of the 1999
constitution since Nigeria is a secular or at least a multi-religious
nation.
Besides, the Rights group noted that the fact that the former military
dictator General Ibrahim Badamosi Babagida who suspended the then
constitution and used military fiat to railroad the country into an
organization that is fundamentally set up to protect, promote and
nurture only pro-Islamic religious issues, makes it imperative that
the action of enrolling Nigeria remains a nullity just as it is
contradictory that Nigeria whose grund norm in section 10 specifically
prohibits Nigeria from doing things that promotes one religion as a
state religion would continue to disobey the constitution only because
a military despot without regard for the constitution enrolled Nigeria
as a member of OIC makes Nigeria a laughing stock before the
international community. HURIWA says it was for constitutional purity
that it is making the strategic intervention to demand for the right
cause of action in line with the Constitution to be followed.
“We condemn the continuous patronage, attendance and participation
of Nigeria in OIC when Nigeria is either an Arab state nor is it a
Moslem nation. Nigeria is made up of Moslems, Christians, Atheists and
adherents of African traditional religions. We must preserve, promote
and defend Mr. Constitution”.
“How does it feel that only about 24 hours ago, the current
president took an oath of allegiance to defend Nigerian constitution,
only for him to immediately turn his back on the same constitution
which in section 10 rules out the possibility of elevating any
religion as state religion even as section 42 speaks and indeed
outlaws policies that are discriminatory?”.
Section 10 says : “The Government of the Federation or a State shall
not adopt any religion as State Religion”.
Section 42 (1) states thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular
community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political
opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
(a) Be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application
of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative
action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which
citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of
origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
(b) Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application
of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or
administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded
to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of
origin, sex, religions or political opinions.”
HURIWA recalled that under its status, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental
organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states
spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice
of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the
interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international
peace and harmony among various people of the world.
HURIWA recalled that the Organization was established upon a decision
of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco
on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following what the Arabs
regards rightly or wrongly as the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in
occupied Jerusalem.
Also, HURIWA recalled that the Organization has the singular honor to
galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented
the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5
billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and
cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental
organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to
work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member
States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the
organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has
strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in
all forms and manifestations.”
HURIWA said whilst it may be the right thing for the organised body of
Moslems in Nigeria like the Islamic Council of Nigeria to join such a
religious body to protect the religious affairs of their members but
at the same time abide by the Nigerian constitution, it remains
illegal and unconstitutional for Nigeria as a SECULAR and Multi
-Religious geopolitical entity to maintain such a membership
relationship with a religious body. “It is like Nigeria becoming a
member of the Roman Curia in the Vatican City”.
HURIWA said it is good enough that the Country maintain diplomatic
ties with Saudi Arabia as well as all other Islamic nations but it is
illegal to identify Nigeria as either an Arab nation or an Islamic
nation.