A prominent civil Rights platform \u2013 HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION
\nOF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal and unconstitutional for
\nPresident Muhammadu Buhari to attend a summit exclusively convoked for
\nIslamic nations under the aegis of organization of Islamic
\ncooperation(OIC).<\/p>\n
It is the contention of the Rights advocacy body that Nigeria\u2019s
\npresence in such a body offends sections 10 and 42 of the 1999
\nconstitution since Nigeria is a secular or at least a multi-religious
\nnation.<\/p>\n
Besides, the Rights group noted that the fact that the former military
\ndictator General Ibrahim Badamosi Babagida who suspended the then
\nconstitution and used military fiat to railroad the country into an
\norganization that is fundamentally set up to protect, promote and
\nnurture only pro-Islamic religious issues, makes it imperative that
\nthe action of enrolling Nigeria remains a nullity just as it is
\ncontradictory that Nigeria whose grund norm in section 10 specifically
\nprohibits Nigeria from doing things that promotes one religion as a
\nstate religion would continue to disobey the constitution only because
\na military despot without regard for the constitution enrolled Nigeria
\nas a member of OIC makes Nigeria a laughing stock before the
\ninternational community. HURIWA says it was for constitutional purity
\nthat it is making the strategic intervention to demand for the right
\ncause of action in line with the Constitution to be followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe condemn the continuous patronage, attendance and participation
\nof Nigeria in OIC when Nigeria is either an Arab state nor is it a
\nMoslem nation. Nigeria is made up of Moslems, Christians, Atheists and
\nadherents of African traditional religions. We must preserve, promote
\nand defend Mr. Constitution\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does it feel that only about 24 hours ago, the current
\npresident took an oath of allegiance to defend Nigerian constitution,
\nonly for him to immediately turn his back on the same constitution
\nwhich in section 10 rules out the possibility of elevating any
\nreligion as state religion even as section 42 speaks and indeed
\noutlaws policies that are discriminatory?\u201d.<\/p>\n
Section 10 says : \u201cThe Government of the Federation or a State shall
\nnot adopt any religion as State Religion\u201d.<\/p>\n
Section 42 (1) states thus: \u201cA citizen of Nigeria of a particular
\ncommunity, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political
\nopinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
\n(a) Be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application
\nof, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative
\naction of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which
\ncitizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of
\norigin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
\n(b) Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application
\nof, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or
\nadministrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded
\nto citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of
\norigin, sex, religions or political opinions.”<\/p>\n
HURIWA recalled that under its status, the Organization of Islamic
\nCooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental
\norganization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states
\nspread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice
\nof the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the
\ninterests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international
\npeace and harmony among various people of the world.<\/p>\n
HURIWA recalled that the Organization was established upon a decision
\nof the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco
\non 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following what the Arabs
\nregards rightly or wrongly as the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in
\noccupied Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
Also, HURIWA recalled that the Organization has the singular honor to
\ngalvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented
\nthe Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5
\nbillion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and
\ncooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental
\norganizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to
\nwork for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member
\nStates. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the
\norganization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has
\nstrongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in
\nall forms and manifestations.”<\/p>\n
HURIWA said whilst it may be the right thing for the organised body of
\nMoslems in Nigeria like the Islamic Council of Nigeria to join such a
\nreligious body to protect the religious affairs of their members but
\nat the same time abide by the Nigerian constitution, it remains
\nillegal and unconstitutional for Nigeria as a SECULAR and Multi
\n-Religious geopolitical entity to maintain such a membership
\nrelationship with a religious body. “It is like Nigeria becoming a
\nmember of the Roman Curia in the Vatican City”.<\/p>\n
HURIWA said it is good enough that the Country maintain diplomatic
\nties with Saudi Arabia as well as all other Islamic nations but it is
\nillegal to identify Nigeria as either an Arab nation or an Islamic
\nnation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A prominent civil Rights platform \u2013 HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal and unconstitutional for President Muhammadu Buhari to attend a summit exclusively convoked for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n