NEC COMMUNIQUE JUMADA AL-THANIYAH, 1434

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE NIGERIAN SUPREME COUNCIL FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS, HELD ON 26™ JUMADA AL-THANIYAH, 1434 (7™ MAY, 2013), AT THE JNI HEADQUARTERS, KADUNA.

Preamble: The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs held its National Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday 26th Jumada al-Thaniyah, 1434 (7th May, 2013) at the National Headquarters of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Kaduna. The meeting was attended by principal officers of the Council, leadership of major National Islamic Organizations, delegates from all states of the Federation and the FCT, leading Emirs, Obas and Chiefs, as well as a cross section of renowned Ulama, Imams, and notable Muslims, and was presided over by the President-General of the Council, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mini., CFR.

The Council appointed a 13 man electoral college (Majlisu Shura) headed by the Shehu of Borno, to consider nominated members and recommend new officers for filling the vacant positions in the Council. The recommendations of the College which was subsequently approved by the Council in session are the following:

1. Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao-Deputy President General (South)
2. Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede – Secretary General
3. Professor Tijani El-Miskeen – Deputy Secretary General (North)
4. Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Idoko – Deputy Secretary General (South) and
5. Maj. Gen. A.B. Mamman (rtd) -Treasurer

Observations: After extensive deliberations on a number of issues affecting the Ummah, the Council observed that:

• The unity of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria is a necessity for the resolution of the numerous challenges facing it.
• The security challenges in the country, especially in the North, are being blamed solely on Muslims, even when events have shown in recent times that many non-Muslims hide under the name of Boko Haram to perpetrate crimes.
• The persistent extra-judicial killings of Nigerians by security agents, as in the recent cases of Baga and Bama in Borno State, to which the international community has attested, is not only criminal but also capable of encouraging lawlessness in the country.
• The continual massacre, persecution and expulsion of Muslims in Tafawa Balewa, Wukari, Wase, and scores of villages and towns in Plateau and Kaduna States and the destruction of their houses and places of worship in the very eyes of security agents are repugnant to civility.
• Muslims in Nigeria, especially women and children, are unjustly persecuted for tenaciously adhering to their faith, as witnessed in the case of the caning of a teenage female student in a public secondary school in Lagos for wearing the hijab.
• The belligerent public utterances being made by some groups and individuals are capable of heating up the polity and undermining the unity, peace and stability of the country.
• A section of the Nigerian press has apparently adopted it as their stock-in-trade to peddle and relentlessly publish campaigns of calumny against Islam and Muslims to the detriment of peaceful coexistence.
• The menace of corruption in the country is attaining a very frightening level, warranting concerted tackling by all major stakeholders in the country.
• The appointment of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North and the Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons by the Federal Government of Nigeria is highly commendable.
• The demise of Dr. Lateef Adegbite, former Secretary General , was a big loss to both the Council and humanity; having performed so excellently, that his achievements remain indelible.
• The Council appreciates the contributions of various individuals and associations to the growth and development of Islam in the country and encourages them to do more positively.

Resolutions: In the light of the observations above, the Council resolved as follows

• That Muslims should shun all sorts of divisive tendencies and utterances, while scholars are implored to adopt good method of preaching (ol-Mau’izatuI Hasanoh) in order to foster and promote unity in the Ummah. Furthermore, the efforts that are being made at cultivating the spirit of cooperation among Muslims across the country should be strengthened and sustained.
• Muslims should continue to propagate Islam wherever they are, and remain peaceful even in the face of provocations. The Council will continue to protect the interest of Muslims in the country.
• That the government should, as a matter of urgency, call to order those making inflammatory statements on the forthcoming 2015 elections, so that the fragile peace in the country will not be jeopardized.
• All those being detained for alleged criminal activities should be prosecuted immediately.
• The Council strongly condemns the Baga and Bama massacre as heinous crimes against humanity, and calls upon the Federal Government to immediately set up a judicial commission of inquiry to ensure that justice is done.
• The Council frowns at the continual failure of the State and Federal Governments to implement the White Papers of their Commissions/Panels of inquiry on various ethno-religious crises and conflicts in the country.
• The Council calls upon the Federal Government to act immediately to restore normalcy and ensure enduring peace and security by resettling and protecting Muslims that have been unjustly displaced in crisis ridden areas like Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State, scores of villages in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State as well as in Southern Kaduna where Muslims had been massively massacred sequel to the 2011 general elections.
• The Council calls on Governments and all well-meaning Nigerians to restrain those hells bent on exterminating Muslims in Wukari and its suburbs as well as Tafawa Balewa from such dastardly acts. The Council calls upon Muslims to shun corruption and stand up to fight it.
• The Council urges all Nigerians to join hands and co-operate with Governments and other well-meaning citizens regardless of religious or geo-political affiliations, to fight corruption.
• The Council states unequivocally that the Hijab is a religious obligation for Muslim ladies. As such, government agencies and private organizations should forthwith stop the harassment and persecution of Muslim ladies on account of observing it.
• The Council calls on the Federal Government, and particularly the members of its Committees on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North and that on Small Arms and Light Weapons, to as a matter of integrity and posterity, demonstrate the sincerity and commitment on the issue with a view to winning the confidence of all right thinking Nigerians.
• The Council calls on the insurgents to accept the amnesty that may be offered by the Federal Government and stop further spilling of blood and wanton destruction of property.
• The Council thanks all those who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the meeting, especially the Jamaatu- Nasril Islam and the security agencies in Kaduna State.

Professor Is-haq Oloyede
Secretary General
NSCIA
26/6/1434 AH (7/5/2013 CE)