The Sharia issue is as old as Islam itself in Nigeria. It was the aim of Usman dan Fodio to implement it in the northern emirates in order to reform what was perceived as the lax practice of Islam among the rulers.

Matthew Kukah supported this view when he wrote: “The basis of the Jihad of Usman dan Fodio was the establishment of an Islam State based on the Sharia” (Kukah: Religion, Politics and Power…p115).

While the Constituent Assembly was debating the issue, Muslims outside sought to enforce their argument by engaging in threats and riots to support the idea that if the Sharia was not accepted they were going to make the country ungovernable. (no be today!)

The Muslim Students Society (MSS) for example demonstrated at Ahmadu Bello University, pleading with the Assembly men to “stop opposition to Sharia or take full responsibility for putting the entire nation in chaos”.

(I can bet my neck that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was an active member of this group when he was a student at ABU)

In April 1979, protesters took to the streets in Zaria and Kaduna with such banners as: No Sharia, No Peace, No Sharia, No Constitution, No Sharia, No Muslim, No Nigeria, etc. (see Sylvanus Udoidem, “Religion in the Political Life of Nigeria, in F. U. Okafor Ed. p162).

From what has been said so far about the Sharia issue, two conclusions could be reached namely:

(1) That the Sharia debate has both religious and political implications. On the religious grounds, it sought for the establishment of an Islam state, where an ideal Islamic religion could be practiced. On political grounds, the defenders and the opposers used the debate to gain a political following either as the defenders of Islam or the protectors of Christianity from Islam domination.


(2) That the Sharia issue is major source of conflict in the Nigerian body polity, is incontestible. It was this Sharia debated that set the stage for the prevalent religio-political conditions that existed at the times that Alhaji Shehu Shagari became the president during the Second Republic (1979-1983).

The Shagari Regime Religious Crises (1979-1983)

Although the Sharia provisions were not included in the 1979 Constitution in exactly the same way the Muslims demanded, they at least saw the election and swearing-in of President Shehu Shagari as Allah’s will for Nigeria. With Shagari, a Sokoto prince and a Muslim, Muslims felt that the stage was set for the achievement of the will of Allah: effective Islamization of the country.

Kano Riot (18-29 December 1980)

The December 1980 Kano Riot, because of its bloody nature and level of destruction, has come to be referred to as the first religious and bloody riot in contemporary Nigeria.

However, according to the report of the Tribunal of Enquiry set up after the 1980 riot, prior to the outbreak in Kano, there had been over thirty violent incidents of religious riots in the northern states. But these were nothing compared to the December 1980 event.

And some will still think religious intolerance by Boko Haram is foreign to the north!

When in 1980 therefore Maitatsine resurfaced in Kano, it was certain that he had come, if not for a revenge, at least to wage a war of purification of Islam.

WombRaiders:
The Shagari Regime Religious Crises (1979-1983)

Although the Sharia provisions were not included in the 1979 Constitution in exactly the same way the Muslims demanded, they at least saw the election and swearing-in of President Shehu Shagari as Allah’s will for Nigeria. With Shagari, a Sokoto prince and a Muslim, Muslims felt that the stage was set for the achievement of the will of Allah: effective Islamization of the country.

And did the Shagari regime Islamize Nigeria? Or did he implement Sharia? Political Sharia only came into existence under a christian President(OBJ). Remember that there are muslims supporting Jonathan's re-election bid. Don't use your hated filled bigoted mind to discourage Jonathan's muslim supporters. For Jonathan to be president, he needs the votes of both christian and muslims

vatoslocos:
And did the Shagari regime Islamize Nigeria? Or did he implement Sharia? Political Sharia only came into existence under a christian President(OBJ). Remember that there are muslims supporting Jonathan's re-election bid. Don't use your hated filled bigoted mind to discourage Jonathan's muslim supporters. For Jonathan to be president, he needs the votes of both christian and muslims

Did OBJ advocate Sharia for the north or was it the north that proposed it and adopted it on their own?

Burning of Churches in Kano (October 1982)

The burning of Christian Churches in October 1982 is an example of an inter-religious crisis in Nigeria. This was the first open and violent religious conflict between Christians and Muslims. The action of the Muslims was probably fuelled by the laying of the foundation for a Christian Church near a mosque in Kano. As noted by Matthew Kukah, “although there was no evidence of hostility visibly shown by the visit of the Archibsihop to Kano, it was not accidental that the site where he laid the foundation stone for the building of the new Church became the scene of the violence that erupted in Kano six months after the visit. The violence was targeted at Christ Church in Fagge, Kano Metropolis” (Kukah p.157

The Buhari Regime Religious Crises (1983-1985)

The regime which overthrew the Shagari-led civilian administration did not do much to allay the fear of non-Muslims, especially given the peculiar nature of its composition and policies. Most of the members of the Supreme Military Council were either northern Muslims or Muslims from the south. This structure made Christians very uncomfortable. It was not only Christians that the regime offended. If anything the Buhari regime incurred the anger of almost all groups in the country. For example, by drastically reducing the number of intending pilgrims across religious lines, Buhari made himself unpopular even among Muslims. The religious riots that occurred during this period were for the most part political in nature.

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Crisis (January 1986)

During the Babangida regime, information filtered out to the public that Nigeria had sought admission into the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). This raised a lot of anxiety among Christians who now believed that the federal government was systemically engaged in the process of Islamizing the country.

A bitter controversy erupted between Christians and Muslims. The Christians based their argument on the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which upholds the secular state of the nation. They argued that since Nigeria is a secular state it could not and should not belong to such an organization. All Christians were unanimous in asking for the withdrawal of the country from membership of such an organization.

The Muslims, on their part, argued that just as it is accepted for Nigeria to maintain diplomatic relations with the Vatican, there was nothing wrong in it being a member of an organization that was essentially at cultural body with many economic advantages for the country.

Ahmadu Bello University Religious Crisis (June 1988)

In June 1988, during the Student’s Union elections in Ahmadu Bello University, violence erupted when it turned out that a Christian candidate would win the elections. Prior to the elections, one of the campaign slogans popularly used by the Christian candidate, one Mr. Stephen, was ‘A vote for Steve is a vote for Christ’. The implication of such a slogan was that the campaign for votes in the Student Union elections was being done on the basis of religion.

In January 1990, Christian in four northern towns protested against the marginalization of Christians in the country. Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We reject OIC”, “Islamization of the country is totally rejected”. “We are ready to buy our rights with our blood”. Christians were now determined either to fight for their rights or defend themselves whenever they were abused and attacked. Such preparedness was acted out in what came to be known as the Bauchi Riot.

Kano Riot (11 October 1991)

The Kano religious riot, 1991, was a case of an inter-religious conflict. A group of Muslim youths attacked people in Sabongari and the Fagge area of the metropolis. The attack was a protest against the religion crusade organised by the state chapter of CAN with a German Christian preacher, Reinhard Bonke, in attendance.

What offended the Muslim youths most were what they saw as anti-Muslim policy in the state. Earlier in the year, they had asked for permission to invite a Muslim fundamental preacher to Kano but the government refused. When therefore permission was granted to Christians to invite the preacher from Germany, they interpreted it as anti-Muslim policy.

Obasanjo Regime 1999-2004

In January 2000, the Governor of Zamfara State Ahmed Yerima introduced the Sharia legal system in his state. Since then, several Northern States have followed suit. This has led to several riots and destruction of lives and property both in the North and in other parts of the country

So what is the point @ op?

barcanista:
So what is the point @ op?

Refresher course on religious intolerance in the north.

least una forget that the north is a bedrock of religious intolerance and as such none of you ought to blame others outside northern society for the violent group boko haram!

Sharia is like slave trade, any country dat practices it is in boundage. Say no to sharia say no to slavery

@OP, weldone. Well documented, educative, concise and straight forward information on the centuries-long violence prone/religious intolerant north.

Ahmadu Bello University Religious Crisis (June 1988)

In June 1988, during the Student’s Union elections in Ahmadu Bello University, violence erupted when it turned out that a Christian candidate would win the elections. Prior to the elections, one of the campaign slogans popularly used by the Christian candidate, one Mr. Stephen, was ‘A vote for Steve is a vote for Christ’. The implication of such a slogan was that the campaign for votes in the Student Union elections was being done on the basis of religion.

In January 1990, Christian in four northern towns protested against the marginalization of Christians in the country. Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We reject OIC”, “Islamization of the country is totally rejected”. “We are ready to buy our rights with our blood”. Christians were now determined either to fight for their rights or defend themselves whenever they were abused and attacked. Such preparedness was acted out in what came to be known as the Bauchi Riot.

Realjoker come and see your MSS at work

The Buhari Regime Religious Crises (1983-1985)

The regime which overthrew the Shagari-led civilian administration did not do much to allay the fear of non-Muslims, especially given the peculiar nature of its composition and policies. Most of the members of the Supreme Military Council were either northern Muslims or Muslims from the south. This structure made Christians very uncomfortable. It was not only Christians that the regime offended. If anything the Buhari regime incurred the anger of almost all groups in the country. For example, by drastically reducing the number of intending pilgrims across religious lines, Buhari made himself unpopular even among Muslims. The religious riots that occurred during this period were for the most part political in nature.

Fast forward today, has anything changed?

The Buhari Regime Religious Crises (1983-1985)

The regime which overthrew the Shagari-led civilian administration did not do much to allay the fear of non-Muslims, especially given the peculiar nature of its composition and policies. Most of the members of the Supreme Military Council were either northern Muslims or Muslims from the south. This structure made Christians very uncomfortable. It was not only Christians that the regime offended. If anything the Buhari regime incurred the anger of almost all groups in the country. For example, by drastically reducing the number of intending pilgrims across religious lines, Buhari made himself unpopular even among Muslims. The religious riots that occurred during this period were for the most part political in nature.

Has anything changed today?