Nigeria

Sheikh Gumi to CJN: Leave Sharia alone, talk about restructuring

Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 11:28 AM by Nnenna Ibeh

- Famous Islamic scholar in Nigeria has urged the federal government to focus on restructuring rather than the Sharia law

- Sheikh Gumi's advice followed a call for the amendment of the constitution to recognise the Sharia law by the Chief Justice of Nigeria

- Gumi said each state in Nigeria should have an autonomy which allows it to improve the lives of the populace

Sheikh Gumi, one of Nigeria's outspoken Islamic scholar has reacted to the call for an amendment of the constitution to recognise Sharia law by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko.

Vanguard reports that Gumi said the federal government and the CJN rather than speak on Sharia law should focus and contribute to the restructuring of Nigeria.

He said restructuring would ensure that areas, where they are more Muslim population and Christians alike, will have their system.

He said: "What I think we should do is to restructure Nigeria so that areas, where Muslims are in the majority like Zamfara and Kano, will have their system. Where Christians are more, allow them to have their way."

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The Sheikh said Saudi Arabia is running on a Sharia system but that does not prevent the country from taking up development responsibilities for the good of the people.

"They have the best roads, hospitals and the latest technology. They produce some of the highest number of PhD holders in all fields. Restructuring Nigeria is the most important thing. Don’t talk about Sharia," Gumi said.

He stated that each state in Nigeria should have an autonomy which allows it to improve the lives of the populace,

"You cannot neglect religion. It is very potent but if it is used to manipulate the people, it becomes opium but if it is used strictly according to the scriptures, it is good. In Islam, we are told that Muslims should love Christians. Clerics are not big-headed," he added.

Continuing on issues of religion across Nigeria, Gumi said: "But it should be localized, not nationalised. Let states have their autonomy and rules. Muslim states that want Sharia should have it. If you do that, you will control crime. When Sharia was introduced in Zamfara, the crime rate was low. Go and check police records."