NSCIA faults CAN’s ‘Islamophobia’, says Sunday was forced on Muslims as work-free day

Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has derided the Christian Association of Nigeria over its Islamisation of Nigeria claims.

It said despite the fact that Sunday was forced on Muslims as a work-free day, they have not cried of “Christianisation” of Nigeria by Christians.

NSCIA wondered why CAN despite its tolerance of Nigeria’s membership of Christian organisations, such as Red Cross Society, and adoption of Christian titles and emblems in different professions, “appears to be increasingly becoming Islamophobic and paranoid about its hate and intolerance of Islam.”

The Islamic council was responding to a recent allegation by CAN that the issuance of Sukuk bond by the Debt Management Office (DBO) was an attempt to turn Nigeria into an Islamic nation.

CAN had also argued that promoting a sectional religious financial policy was a violation of the constitution.
In a statement on Friday by its deputy secretary general, Salisu Shehu, NSCIA said that CAN should not pretend not to be aware that even the World Bank issues Sukuk bond.

According to NSCIA, several non-Muslim countries across Africa, Europe and Asia have Islamic Financial System instituted in their countries, especially Sukuk. Among the countries it said were Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Russia, China and Singapore among others.

“It would certainly be embarrassing for CAN to be told that the first and foremost state in Nigeria to submit application for loan to the Islamic Development Bank is a Christian-dominated state in the South-East.

“This has been the factor that made Muslims to tolerate several practices or things that are essentially Christian in nature and outlook, in substance and form and indeed in principle and practice, but imposed on us.

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“We have not been talking of Christianisation because Sunday has been forced on us as a work-free day, or the Cross as our hospital sign and symbol, our membership of the International Red Cross, and many other things including almost all the titles of the heads of academic institutions (chancellor, provost, dean, rector, etc.).

“Despite this remarkable tolerance from Muslims over the years, CAN appears to be increasingly becoming Islamophobic and paranoid about its hate and intolerance of Islam, casting aspersions, unnecessarily overheating the polity and unjustifiably creating fear and distrust in the minds of peace-loving citizens of our great country,” the statement read in part.

NSCIA then called on CAN to in the spirit of biblical injunctions hold onto truth and shun statements capable of breeding hostility and promoting disharmony that might lead to conflict in the country.