PEOPLE AND POLITICS BY MOHAMMED HARUNAMixed Reactions
As I have done every once in a while, today I bring you some of the reactions of my readers on a number of topical issues I have written on recently. Some of the reactions have been edited for grammar and space.
On Islam phobia.
Sir,
I came across your article on the Gamji site and feel compelled to reply you and express a small side of my opinion. Just so that you understand where I'm coming from, I want you to know I grew up with Muslims (Hausas & Fulanis) and we still consider each other as brothers inspite of the madness that we have experienced in our recent past where we've taken up arms against one another.
Whatever you say about Western propaganda and all you can't deny the reality that some Muslims in Nigeria and elsewhere have never hesitated to take up arms in the name of Allah as if any one can fight on behalf of the Almighty. I think that instead of trying to blame the Western world whom I agree with you that operates a double standard, intellectuals like you should champion the call for Muslims to take a long and hard look at ways of controlling the extremists that have been allowed to take the centre stage.
Dr. Christy Best **************
Sir,
What does the removal of the Arabic inscriptions in the Naira do to Islam? Nothing.
Arabic is not Nigeria's official language. Don't you think that Christians who do not understand what is written on their currencies on that account have borne enough? Soyinka once gave a lecture that centred on those inscriptions. If the inscription is written for Hausa readership, which one is written for Yoruba, Ijaw, Igbo readership? How do you define selfishness?
Let's not continue to use our privileged status as public commentators to incite public disaffections in very needless circumstances. One day, hopefully, the uprising the elite of this country inspire which only consume the foolish who march the streets for them, will also turn around to consume them, or their dear ones. Maybe, all these will stop!
If you think Muslims should not be associated with violence, they should stop wallowing in it. Tell me, how do you just justify the killing of innocent Nigerians in Maiduguri for cartoons published in faraway Denmark? How would you feel if your relation is murdered in Warri for cartoons published in Iran? How many people have Christians killed because of the Da Vinci Code?
People like you should be giving your religion a good image, and not helping to increase its image problems. I wish you would consider my points without offence.
I. D. Kris
************* Sir,
I enjoyed reading your piece on titled, ""Islamic Terror", Islam phobia and all that."
In particular, I was struck by the whole brouhaha regarding "Islamic inscriptions" on the currency. The Ajami script, of Persian origin, was merely a form of alphabet used to translate some West African languages, such as Hausa, Fulani etc... which is how it got on the Nigerian descendant of the old common colonial West African Currency. Ditto the motto of the West African Frontier Force.
As you rightly pointed out, Arabic inscriptions are not historically synonymous with Islam, although many tend to wrongly presume so because the Koran was originally written in Arabic alphabet (although now widely available in Roman alphabet), Arab countries are today predominantly Islamic and Arabic alphabets are not in widespread use outside the Arab world.
In fact Arabic alphabet predates Islam. It originated from the Nabatean alphabet - in which Aramaic – the language that Jesus spoke - was written. Aramaic was derived from Phoenician.
You also make a good point about the widespread use of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc) in the western world today - a fact that many Nigerians who complain about the Ajami script are curiously ignorant about.
It may be pertinent too to add that Latin phrases adorn many mottos of schools and organizations in Nigeria, not to mention its widespread use in Medical and Legal education, among others. Why anyone should be inherently more comfortable with Latin than any other alien language beats me.
Furthermore, I recall reading in the newspapers that some Nigerian Universities, assisted by Chinese government grants (with the knowledge of the Nigerian government), are planning to introduce Chinese (along with Arabic, Huama and Suzhou numerals and Hanzi (Chines alphabets) as a language of study.
Nigeria is an interesting country. There is certainly something wrong in an educational system that fails to imbue basic knowledge of the history of numerals and alphabets in its citizens. All alphabetical and numerical systems in use in Nigeria are of foreign origin, each with its own unique historical significance.
Ignorance can be dangerous, especially when mixed with misguided religious sentiment.
Nowa Omoigu ************
On The rise and fall of Okenjo-Iweaka
Sir, Any African leader or policy maker, who believes and practices Western prescriptions for the economic, political and social advancement of his/her people is not being rational or realistic, for that matter. A critical look at Castro, Chavez or Morales will underpin this assertion. Anyway, I have never been impressed with either her or Obasanjo.
Osagie Ayanru ************
Sir,
Since the woman made claims to be the originator of some of the things that took place during her tenure in public (you should) leave that to those involved to react to her claims.
I find your arguments on some issues interesting. It appears age is catching up with you that your brain is not thinking properly anymore.
M. A. New York ************ On Father Kukah and Jerry Gana
Sir,
Thank you for responding to Kukah’s defamatory article. You just made my day. I agree with you that you have to protect your name as you have a very large readership. Please permit me to say, however, that you should watch your "adrenaline" as you write, because it was slightly carried over in your response. I saw it as a responsibility to point it out.
Kukah is one of the worst things that ever happened to Nigeria and personality wise, I do not see much difference between him and Gana. He therefore saw himself mirrored in the Gana article. That coupled with (as you said rightfully) your past article on him and a passion for a religion he does not understand is what triggered his response.
Fatimah Suleman ************
Sir
I have always read most of your writings with a lot of interest bust must say it is not in the interest of the North that we should run down a candidate simply because of his religion. I love my name sake Nuhu Ribadu and (Nasir) El Rufai. I see them as presidential materials but I also understand that they are religious zealots.
I don't know Gana, I have never met him but as you have said he served in every government but is he a billionaire like your Inspector Generals? A country can survive wars, disease and pestilence but cannot survive corruption.
If the Balarabe Musas are no more and young people like the aforementioned are not standing I will rather request you to support your kinsman Gana his religion notwithstanding. Or would you rather have another southern Christian as president which could happen again and again and again. After all there has never been a democratically elected Northern Christian and out of the six soldiers that ruled the country only one is a Christian. Also don't forget the Buhari/Idiagbon regime was a Muslim/Muslim ticket and the Nigerians voted Abiola and Kingkibge, another Muslim/Muslim ticket. Nigerians do not care. All they want is people that will deliver even though I did not support Abiola because of the way he made his billions. Think about it.
Nuhu Harman London
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