Admin l Thursday, December, 22, 2016
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has kicked against membership of Nigeria in the General Assembly of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILMC), contending that such is a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
CAN, in a statement signed by Media Assistant to the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, Pastor Bayo Oladeji said Nigeria’s membership of the IILMC without the backing of the country’s law should be withdrawn with immediate effect.
There has been reports that the IILMC recently appointed the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele as its Chairman during its 17th Governing Board meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
IILMC is an international institution established by central banks’ monetary authorities and multilateral organizations to create and issue short-term Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management.
“By creating more liquid Shari’ah-compliant financial markets for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS), the IILMC aims to enhance cross-border investment flows, international linkages and financial stability,” the corporation discloses on its website.
The leadership of CAN, however wondered when Nigeria became a member of this Islamic body, stressing that the government’s action was a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria especially Section 10.
According to CAN, section 10 states that “The Government of the Federation or a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion”.
According to CAN, the action by the government of Nigeria on accepting to head IILM amounted to denouncing Nigeria as secular, insisting that Nigeria therefore cannot join any organization that has a religious connotation.
CAN said Nigerians should focus on some pertinent questions with intent to make the government offer right answers.
CAN statement read, “We also recalled how President Muhammadu Buhari not only smuggled Nigeria into the “34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism” but he and his government poured invectives and venoms on those who spoke against his unconstitutional action.
“Do we need to repeat our concern that almost all the heads of security paramilitary agencies in Nigeria today are Muslims as if Christians have become second class citizens or rather lack competent officers to in charge! Has Nigeria become an Islamic state?
“We also recall the controversy surrounding the funding of Jaiz bank, an Islamic institution, with the public money by the immediate past CBN Governor with impunity.
“Recently, when the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu overhauled the heads of the 17 parastatals and agencies under his watch, 13 out of 17 of them were and are Muslims! Is this government saying it is only Muslims that can be trusted?
“A government that is interested in the unity and peace of the country should not be taking actions such as the lopsidedness of its appointments at the expense of one religion with impunity.We have noted with dismay that this government is not a listening government and this is dangerous for the future well-being of our nation. Is it democracy we are practicing or a rigid dictatorship?
Equally, we are surprised by the argument being canvassed in some quarters that Nigeria is not a secular but a multi-religious nation. Assuming but not conceding that Nigeria is a multi-religious state, should the government policies be pro one of the religions at the expense of the others?
