Shekarau Versus Agent of Darkness

By

Sani Garba Mohammed

karaye@gmail.com

The recent resignation of Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam et al tend to show as if there is misunderstanding between them and the government of Shekarau, which perhaps attract Weekly Trust to make it a cover story in its edition of June2-8, 205. The Ulama interviewed traces their resignation to various issues, which they see government is doing short of their expectation. The cover story, to me is 'inappropriate', it should have read 'Shekarau Vs Some Ulama', because, mere resignation of three Ulama [no matter their influence, which does constitute up to 5% of the Ulama] should not attract the title 'Shekarau Vs Ulama'. This writing will look at their responses and other things to see whether or not they are appropriate.

To start with, I wonder how the statement of Abba Koki that said "….our aim is to see that the Islamic legal code is firmly entrenched, in its totality as taught by prophet Muhammad [SAW]" be realisable in the current Nigeria which the rules and regulations governing her [the constitution] is supreme to any law. No matter your determination and zeal to entrench fully Islamic Shari'ah in it totality, it can only be applicable in the areas that are not in confrontation with the constitution, which perhaps you did not know. Mallam Abba should remember that, even if he himself become a governor he can not do more than what Shekarau did despite the constraints and sabotage he is being face internally and externally due to the intricacies and complexities and other things that are associated with governance, precisely those that want make Kano ungovernable.

Immediately Shekarau took over, he took time trying to find a strong footing that will give Shari'ah a foundation/legal base for its proper implementation, which was not only lacking but wholly absent. This gives birth to Shari'ah, Hisba and Zakkat commissions, which is contrary to your statement that "…to our dismay, Shari'ah implementation in Kano state is not given the seriousness it deserve. It is as if government is not sincere" because "…beer parlours and brothels are there standing side by side with people's house….prostitute are everywhere, people consume alcohol without hindrance". Do you think that all things you listed can be curtailed without law that back the action in Kano considering Qur'an and Sunnah are unwritten constitution in Nigeria and without adequate and accessible information to those who engage in the act to re-think and change their habit accordingly. On the other hand, do you want government to act in haste with out looking at the likely consequences that will follow? What if the prostitution and alcohol consumption is control, and, yet the perpetrators of the act moves to another criminal activities punishable by Shari'ah, because all Shari'ah is trying to do is to enjoin people to engage in good things and disengage in bad things, as such, there is need for extra care in being harsh [this does not mean authorities should be lenient to criminals]. Why do you think Shekarau should not be concern about if he drives away all the prostitute from they may relocate to other places and continue with their act? Shekarau is concern because, he preferred all those prostitutes and drunkard to repent and change their habits, instead to of them to go to other state and become problems to them for humanity sake, even though his primary concern is Kano, but in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood, he regard his neighbouring states as equally important, forgetting about constitutional and artificial boundaries. It is very unfortunate that with all the effort the state government is doing, the like of Abba Koki and Co cannot see it because they are beclouded by darkness of egocentrism. It is also "unfortunate" according to Ibrahim Khalil "that most people are not properly educated [some Ulama inclusive] on the working of Shari'ah. A lot of people see Shari'ah in term of amputation, stoning to death or lashes or closure of brothel. Unless you do this, due to ignorance, people would say you are not practising the Islamic legal code. But the Shari'a is more than just amputation and other punitive measures" [emphasis mine].

The referral by Abba Koki of Zamfara to Kano that "you can not go to Zamfara today and say with all certainty that this is an abode for prostitutes, while in Kano, rapist walk the street without fear…" is a misplacement of comparative analysis. How can Zamfara [as small as it is] be compared with Kano with its cosmopolitant nature. If it work in Zamfara in their own way, here in Kano we have our own peculiarities which may not be applicable in Zamfara, which need time and proper analysis before such things were taken, in fact, the recent inauguration of Hisba commanders will put rest to this kind of call. Let me know how many [if any] rapist[s] is [are] walking free now, people are only citing the rapist that kill a small girl who as at now are in the gulag of court. People just want them to be killed. While Shari'a is not common sense, even if rapist exist it is not the undoing of Shekarau, the blame must go first to the economic and societal decadence facing Nigeria as a whole which force them to misbehave [even though no matter what, raping is a condemned act]. If a criminal kidnap a small girl and rape her in his room, must Shekarau be there to arrest the offender?

Shari'a in Kano is not a one day affair or say four year affair which can restore all the decadent that accumulated since 1903 [when the Islamic state of Sokoto Caliphate was dethroned] to date and put it in order in just one fell swoop [while we on our own are not changing in our misconduct], unless we are mischievous and unjust to ourselves. How many years does our holy prophet {SAW] spent before Islam become fully entrench in his time, how many years does Othman Bn Fodio spent before he succeed in making Sokoto empire an Islamic state, let us be realistic, hence, Shekarau will not be an exception [notwithstanding he has power].

The statement of Baba Impossible that "If you look at the Shari'a, nothing on ground to show you that people are having what they want in line with the Shari'a…" is not only lie but unfortunate. He also added "…vices have increased like paedophilia, prostitution, ritual killings, and alcohol consumption in the last two years". Continues referring to all these is mischievous, because who engage in all the activities mentioned above [less Christians], majority of them are Muslims. Are they not the ones that yearn and call for Shari'a, why are they not living to it dictate. While the government is trying to provide a strong footing for all the Shari'a related commissions and other support, on the other hand the same Muslims are sabotaging every effort government is making to see Shari'a become realisable. While the government is trying it best, they say it is too slow, but if it act fast they will say the government is too rigid and not lenient, or better in the word of Ibrahim Khalil "…if the government does not move fast in line with their expectation, ideology and thinking, they see it as insincere" [emphasis mine].

On the issue of resignation, Abba Koki said "….the reason why we withdrew our membership was because the promise made to the people of Kano on Shari'a is not being fulfilled". I doubt much, there are more to see than meet the eye, which only time will tell the secret behind their disengagement. It is unfortunate that one of the three scholars who voluntarily withdrew their membership from Shari'a institutions in Kano was quote telling some pagans [maguzawa] while trying to convert them to Islam, the candidate they will vote in 2007. He is using the organisation he is representing to champion the person [the candidate] who has never associated himself with any Islamic cause, yet they said they leave based on their advice which government fail to adhere or the is insincere. The like of Abba Koki, Ja'afar et al has from the beginning thought Shekarau will follow their line of ideology [considering they regard him as part of their club/sect], but refused to, instead he appointed other Ulamas in the key positions whom are not members of their [Ja'afar] club/sect. In fact they started abusing, blackmailing and discrediting Shekarau in all their gathering, precisely 1 year after election, which to every fair and reasonable mind is too early to assess. They have never hide their detest to the kind of Ulamas Shekarau put in strategic positions of Shari'a institutions, so, to me, the resignation is an ill time motive and an agenda just to hang a dog to give it a bad name, which sooner or later their true colour will be unfold, certainly.

If it is true that Ja'afar offered many advice and government refused to accept, what are they, let him say them, must it be necessary for all the advices he gave to be taken? Some of his advice might not necessarily be in tune with the current situation or not implementable now, or might have been accepted and regarded, but not in the way he likes to see it, which ignorantly he can say his advices were not taken.

I really agree with Khalil where he said "…if you look at Sharia from the perspective of known Islamic books written by scholars like Ibn Taimiyyah which have expanded views of Shari'a and its working, like Siyas-Shari'iyya by Ibn Taimiyyah, or Durukul Hukumiyya of Ibn Qayyim and the rest, definitely the Kano state government is right o track…", what else does these resignee and other opposition want to see in this Shari'a project which is not a two years or four years affairs, or are they ignorant of the above books?

If I should go back a little, what is even Shari'a, Does Shari'a necessarily means arresting prostitute, closing beer parlour and the like [as Abba Koki and co want us to believe]? If it is only these that are Shari'a what happens to our Iman, Ibadat and Mu'amalat which are main component of Shari'a, are we in tune with them in all our undertakings. Our problems is inward and encompass everybody, not government [for we are the government], everybody has a role to play in enjoining what is good and disengaging from what is bad, instead of us to join hand with government of the day, we tend to destroy it and discredit all it is doing. We tend to give every government activities as political no matter how good it is, perhaps that is why I heard one PDP member from Gaya LG saying, even the 9000 Hisba commandant and guard recently recruited were political in such a way that, they themselves and their families constitute a votes to Shekarau in 2007, very dull indeed.

We should remember, it is our effort in various undertaking that brought Shekarau in to power, courtesy of our desire to be rule under Shari'a, yet due to our impatience, we are expecting Shekarau to cleanse all the decadent in our societies within two years as if he is super human being. What did we do as individuals in our own way to help this Shari'a, does our habit, transaction, commitments and others in tune with Shari'a, how many people did we advices to change from bad to good, how do we dealt with our Christian neighbours, do we live with them accordingly, do we give Zakkat as at when due, do we drive by order in our ways, does the ones in car consider those on motorbike, does those on motorbike consider those on bicycle, does those on bicycle consider those on animals [like donkey] and on foot, do we obey traffic light at all, do we know the situation of our neighbours and many others. The answers to these question and many more will determine whether or not we are ready for Shari'a, not blaming government always. These are the whole issues that government is trying to inform the people [through various programmes societal re-orientation is running in Radio Kano, Freedom Radio, Ray Power, Pyramid Radio, CTV 67, NTA, AIT etc], preach to them, providing legal base of many Islamic activities, yet people are saying nothing is going on, while even on their own they are helping the Shari'a in any way.

Do people know all the obstacle and sabotage this Shari'a is facing from the same Muslims who in one-way or the other their concern will be touch, there are many such moves, which are countless. They have been engage in may things such that there will be chaos in Kano because they are not power and ready to see a state of emergency is declared in Kano, yet they fail to win.

As Shekarau also put it "In all those crises and controversies we are not deterred in our duties, instead they have strengthened us, what we normally do is to study all the criticism, see it truth or reality, then we move to rectify it. We do not see critics as enemies, but if we are sure that a critic just want ot pull us down, then we will take the move to enlighten him on the subject, in order to forge an understanding, IF HE FAILED TO, HE GO HIS WAY WE OUR WAY" [Emphasis mine].

"Many of your accusers" according to Mahdi Shehu in Sunday Triumph, July 10, 2005 and Leadership, July 17, 2005, "are likely to continue because doing so is like a stock in trade of ideal minds in spite of the inbuilt and visible dishonest in so doing", hence, they will not stop at all. In addition, Musa A. Yakasai in Daily Trust of July 13, 2005 categorised Shekarau's critics in to two: "The first category are the retrogressive elements; who are remnants of the decadent class of northern Nigeria that participated actively in the previous PDP administration of the state. The second category has his former supporters, which did not get what they wanted. This category could also be further divided into those who are seeking material benefits and those who are after relevance LIKE ABBA KOKI AND CO" [Emphasis mine]. That is why they are "….however not satisfied" said Yakasai "with the Shari'a implementation strategies of governor Shekarau because of their extremism and the fact that they have not been given permanent appointment in the Shari'a bodies". Though I disagree with his two categorisation, rather there are real critics who are after to see all the problems being created by government agent in some instances are corrected, because, it is not all the lieutenant of Shekarau that are good like him, hence others are criticising the government in good faith. My advice to Shekarau is a replica of our seasoned politician in the name of Sidi H. Ali that "….Shekarau should ignore such people [who are after the down fall of the government] and go ahead and implement his people oriented programmes" [Weekly Trust July 9-15] [Emphasis mine].

The opposition to Shari'a are more within the Muslims than outside, precisely from some so-called Ulama who the progress achieved so far is not in line with their club ideology, and some PDP members [extraction/faction of Rabi'u Kwankwaso Plumber], and other Muslim who are ignoramus on what Sharia is and what it is not. All these controversies is being fuelled by the type of above people, just to win the sympathy of the unsuspecting people, for they learnt many Muslims are also ignorant of Shari'a. My astonishment is, with all the various programmes being run in the state and private media on Shari'a, and what it entails, people are yet to have the basic information about Shari'a. As a Muslim, it is unfortunate that s/he does not know Islamic Shari'a by his failure to go and seek for knowledge such that he can run his/her affairs accordingly within the purview if Islamic Law. In fact, if you ask many of my Muslims brothers about what he knows on Shari'a, s/he will end up telling you cutting thieves hand, lashes and the likes, this is the premises some Ulama and politicians are using to woo these ignorant Muslims to their side, that there is no Shari'a in Kano.

If we are really determine in this struggle, we shall not leave any stone unturn in practising Shari'a in all our activities, and if any of us is not ready to offer his advice or any hand of support, s/he is free to disengage, stay aside and watch, your advice is not needed. Shari'a has come to stay no matter the shortcoming, with or without you we are determine to excel, Allah is on our side.

Contrary to what others said, that no Shari'a in Kano, we can say that is the peace we are enjoying not Shari'a, what of prompt payment of pensioners, civil servant and contractors, provisions of employment [of over 10000] both permanent casual which still continues, the using of Islamic calendar in all government activities [which before many Muslims do not know the full names of 12 Islamic calendar months], and many others. If we stop here, are these not progress achieved so far which none of them can be found in the last government of Rabi'u Plumber, though they claimed they were practising Shari'a. In fact they were saying they are the first to practice real Shari'a in Kano, while they forgot the time of Group captain Mohd Ndatsu Umaru who went an extra length to practice Shari'a though not officially call by the name. In his speech on May 24, 1988 he set up a committe on Women Affairs, Almajirai, Destitutes and Mobilisation. Under Women affairs he went an extent of subsidising marriage then. Considering the rate of prostitutes then and that the vulnerable are youths who cannot marry early to prevent themselves from pre-marital love affairs he said that "government therefore accepts the recommendation to outlaw the following marriage expenses with immediate effect, with the exception of Sadaki which is leagl. These are: Gaisuwar Uwa da Uba, Kayan Zance, Kayan Baiko, Kayan Lege, Kayan Ada'a, Dukiyar Aure, Kudin Kunshi, Kudin Budar Kai, Kudin Yan Mata,Kudin Alibidi, Kudin Sayen Fura, Zaman Ajo, Kudin Kamun Hannu; and Kudi/Rigar Mijin Baya. Government Hopes that with these unnecessary expenses being outlawed, marriage will now be easier and will be encouraged" which I am sure sooner or later the state government will adopt this measures and many more which that governement did and even others not minding who didi it. For more information ask Our Ujudud Shariff who was commissoner of Information then or consult Hotline Magazine of May 30-June12, 1988 page 31-33. So, Shari'a Struggle does not start during Kwankwaso Plumber, it only reach its climax in his time [though he is reluctant and unwilling to implement], courtesy of Ahmad Sani's declaration. Eventhough during Ndatsu Umaru they did not call it Shari'a, nevertheless, indirectly they champion the cause of Shari'a which is worth commending. As such faction of Rabiu kwankwasom plumber should stop saying they are the one who introduce Shari'a.

Did we forge that of recent, it is a misnomer and suicidal for any government functionaries to associate him/her self with any Islamic programme[s], did we forget the onslaught we faced from the same Muslims when we are agitating for Shari'a in our land [during military era], at that time many of the Muslim are on the list of government to either be imprisoned or killed just because of the movement of trying to revive Islam, and also on calling of leaders to abide by Islamic Shari'a in all their activities, but it is the same Muslims that are fighting us. Traditional rulers [who are regarded as custodian of Islam were not helping either, they were collaborating with the government then to suppress any Islamic movement that tend to challenge their power]. But today, our governors and Traditional rulers are championing the cause of Islam and even making it as their guide lines in their activities [no matter the shortcomings]. As such, we cannot expect to see the whole of our society's changes overnight to full practise of Shari'a, while some of us are reluctant to change our bad habits that are contrary to Islamic Shari'a. No matter the slow pace of full implementation of Shari'a, we have reach a landmark that is unequal in history, our brothers in Algeria and Egypt, despite their being old in the struggle in Islamic revivalism, their government are not ready to include or allow Islamic Shari'a to be used in their countries [notwithstanding they are 90% or more Muslims in their countries]. However ours [even though secular country as they call it] include it and become constitutional to any of the federating unit that like to uses it in it running affairs. This is a blessing to us which democracy brings in, if we utilise it, to our advantages, if we refused to [that is we bastardise the gesture], then the worst of our travails is yet to be seen.

My advise to my Muslim brothers in Nigeria and Kano in particular is, Shekarau is Allah given, we yearn for Shari'a and he answered our prayer, so the opportunity we have now is rare among the rarest [as we have seen how during Kwankwaso he mishandle the issue], if we utilised it and support him, we shall progress rapidly, and failure to do that is dangerous. For to get a person like Shekarau that is religious, tolerant, pious and kind is not an easy, hence, our total support to him will make Allah to help him and us the more in getting rid of the societal decadence and other things that Shari'a is eager to get rid of them. He can make him to succeed himself, courtesy of the foundation he laid for Shari'a to be fully entrenched in all our activities for continuity, or bring su another one better than Shekarau who will continue from where Shekarau stop. For if we allow bad people to become governor after Shekarau, then we are in danger.

We should not allow politics, club/sect differences to beclouds us in seeing between reason and emotion, fact and fiction, real and imaginary, true and lie, we need to be real Muslim by thinking good from people. Even if we differ in political party, you campaign if you are outside power should be, 'If we win an election, we shall perform better than the present government' not to discredit whatever progress others achieved so far.

Shekarau has fulfilled his promise by giving all the necessary financing, moral and legal backing to all the Shari'a institutions/commissions, what remain is for us to live by its dictate. Whether or not the opposition like it, his name is indelible in Nigerian struggle to the Shari'a, so the recent inauguration of Hisba guard-who are the ones that will render their selfless services to humanity in various fields like first aid, traffic congestion control, settling of communal and marriages dispute, enjoining people to do good and refrain from bad etc, is an eye opener to those who thinks by their opposition or resignation, our determination will be shaken. Shekarau should also look inward to fish out who are sabotaging his effort within his governement to give room for sanity.

Long live Kano state government

Wassalam.