Defend the Shari’a of Niger State

Late Engr Abdul Kadir Abdullahi Kure

From the account of people who were in Niger state before the Islamic Revolution of the year 2000, the only differences between Niger state and states like Anambra were that; there were regular calls to prayer in Niger state and the women dressed relatively more decently. Every other thing was more or less the same. After the 1999 elections, an engineer became the governor of the ‘Power state’. Everything was expected to continue in the same septic state but no, ALLAH had HIS plans. Some members of the Muslim Ummah decided to do things differently; they sparked-up the Shari’a debate. In an era when the idea was not likely to see the light of day; they succeeded. Zamfara state, headed by Ahmad Sanni Yarima declared Shari’a on January 27 2000. This paved the way for other Muslim-majority states to follow suit. States from the so-called middle belt were not expected to covet the status ‘Shari’a state’. But, on the 4th of May 2000, after much anxiety, Niger state, headed by Engineer Abdul Kadir Abdullahi Kure against the desires of traditionalists, haters and bigots signed the Shari’a code into law. The declaration of Niger state as a Shari’a brought about drastic positive changes in everyday life in the state. The changes majorly bordered around morality. Brothels were shut down, beer-parlors within the cities were sent packing into the bushes, adulterers and fornicators were tamed and to a very great extent; mini-casinos disappeared. With all these physical transformations came an invigorated spiritual awareness of the inhabitants of Niger state. The era of Kure passed, ushering the era of a new set of leaders. The popular saying among bigots, perverts and haters became, ’Shari’a has gone’ and they were not too far from the truth. The perverts gradually began to summon courage to rear their ugly heads once again and to our dismay, today in Niger state; Shari’a is heading for ground zero. It is no longer strange to see used condoms on our streets, we now see empty cans and bottles of beer on our dumping sites, gambling joints are springing up all over the place and the most dangerous of them all; the prostitutes are coming back. Some people try to tell us that Shari’a in Niger state ended with Kure’s rule but we tell them they are liars. In the records of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there are currently 12 states that are officially and constitutionally recognized as Shari’a states and the last time we checked, Niger state is one of them. This is not the time to criticize current leaders, but the time to tell them that this is a democracy and in a democracy; what the people want is what becomes law. As conscious Muslims of Niger state, we must be pro-active. There are people in government who want morality to thrive just as much as we do, but they have to be sure that the people will not leave them to the mercy of critics when issues arise. What makes this issue so simple is that: to get what we want, we not even quote an Ayah or Hadith. There are tens of thousands of secular communities across the globe where these vices are strictly frowned at. In the Nigerian constitution, prostitution is illegal. There used to be a time in Nigeria when certain places were raided frequently by police in search of gamblers. Even in Western nations, casinos are not found just anywhere. In 2014, Uganda; a predominantly non-Muslim country implemented nation-wide dress-code to improve decency and the non-Muslim citizens embraced the move wholeheartedly. All these being said, to make the come-back more effective, we must put our feet firm on the ground to ensure that traditionalists and sectarianists (among Muslims) do not have a say in how Islam works in Niger state and on the other hand, make sure that we do not leave the indigents to themselves. This was the major mistake that was made by the 2000-2007 sets across the country which gave bigots and haters spears to throw. Shari’a is not just about restrictions; it is most especially about the welfare of the masses. We need pressure groups of sincere men and women to point the leadership in the right direction. The most difficult task (signing the Shari’a code into law) has been done, it is left for those of us alive and healthy to do the easier part; keeping it in place. For all the people who made the Islamic Revolution possible, I say may ALLAH through their work for Islam in the state forgive them and as for the head of the revolution, Engineer Abdul Kadir Abdullahi Kure; may ALLAH grant him Jannatul Firduas-AMEEN.