APC’s Islamisation Agenda

There is no gainsaying that the emergence of All Progressives Congress through the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has affected the Nigerian political landscape. A critical look, however, does not leave many people happy.

The merged parties were predominantly Muslim or made of practitioners of Islam. Except for ACN, the other parties are known as “Northern” parties. Even ACN was controlled by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim. Don't get me wrong, the much touted June 12, 1993 election had a Muslim-Muslim ticket, with MKO Abiola as the Presidential candidate. Still ACN, besides being a Southwestern party, could hardly be considered a Christian party. Even Lagosians are wondering if Muslim Fashola who replaced Tinubu, could be replaced by a Christian as the governor of the largely Christian Lagos State in 2015.

With the report last week in the media that APC has an Islamic agenda, it put fear in the hearts of many Nigerians, especially with the various attempts at imposition of sharia law in many states and supposed membership of Nigeria in the Organization of Islamic Nations during the tenure of late President Umaru Yar'Adua. We hope it is simply a hoax. It has been revealed that almost all the members of the National Interim Executive Committee of APC and their presidential aspirants were mainly Muslims. Media reports has it that a group called Religious Equity Promotion Council (REPC) has accused APC of championing an Islamic agenda in Nigeria just like the Egypt Muslim Brotherhood. Equating APC with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood should disturb any well-meaning Nigerian.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, an Egyptian schoolteacher, who preached implementing traditional Islamic Sharia law in all aspects of life, from everyday problems to the organization of the government. In 2013, an Egyptian court banned the Muslim Brotherhood and the interim government branded it a terrorist group. The 1999 constitution of Nigeria guarantees Freedom of religion and association by stating in section 38 (1) that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.” Section 40 adds that “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests: Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers conferred by this Constitution on the Independent National Electoral Commission with respect to political parties to which that Commission does not accord recognition. “

In other words, based on the fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens of Nigeria, we probably cannot ban APC. However, it is worth considering if its Islamisation agenda is proven. Both the Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act prohibits political parties formed along religious lines. For reference purposes, Section 222 (b) of the 1999 Constitution is unequivocal that “No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping” and Section 223(1) (b) mandates that “The constitution and rules of a political party shall ensure that the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party reflect the federal character of Nigeria.” Also, Section 223 (2) adds that “For the purposes of this section - the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party reflect the federal character of Nigeria only if the members thereof belong to different states not being less in number than two-thirds of all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.” These sections have clearly been violated by APC. Section 86 of the 2010 amended Electoral Act empowers INEC to monitor political parties to ensure they do not violate the 1999 Constitution.

Reports revealed that The National Chairman of APC, Bisi Akande, is a Muslim; the Deputy National Chairman, Aminu Bello Masari, is a Muslim; the National Secretary of APC, Tijani Musa Tumsah; the Deputy National Secretary, Nasir el-Rufai and the National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, are all Muslims. Also, the National Treasurer of APC, Sadiya Umar Faruq; the National Financial Secretary, Shaibu Musa; the National Youth Leader, Abubakar Lado; the National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire the Deputy National Auditor, Bala Jubrin and the National Woman Leader, Sharia Ikeazor (Muslim Convert), are all Muslims, including ex-officio members, Muiru Muse and Yemi Sanusi.

REPC's Secretary General, Tanko Garba and Muslim cleric, Ambassador Yusuf Garba queried the rationale for the composition of APC leadership with die-hard Muslims. REPC also posed a profound question: “Does it mean that there are no Christians worthy enough to occupy these executive positions of the APC, where is their sense of religious balancing, if not to deliberately cause religious disharmony in Nigeria?”

The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a Muslim, has denied the allegations claiming that out of 35 officers in the Interim National Executive Committee of the party, 18 are Muslims and 17 are Christians. He however, neither provided the names of the Christian EXCO members, nor explained why the upper echelon is Muslim dominated.

Also worrisome is the fact that the Boko haram sect is against “western” education and clearly anti-Christian with a neo-mohamadian colonial agenda. Of course, the proven fact that Boko Haram has its genesis amongst northern Muslim politicians is also unsettling.

Former head of State, Muhammadu Buhari has not hidden his slant towards the north and his many anti-Jonathan statements with ethno-religious bent. I am not talking about just his “dogs and baboons” and bloodshed statements.

Unless you have been in a political coma or are a certified political zombie, you should be able to forecast that APC will definitely field a Northern Muslim candidate against the southern Christian President Jonathan. In fact, it has also come out that their Christian brother Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been by-passed as a vice-presidential candidate. Even the only other southern Christian governor, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has seen the hand-writing on the wall and has shelved any presidential ambition under APC and is instead trying to find a way to ensure he gets re-elected for a second term as governor in 2015.

The amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clearly against Islamisation or Christianization of Nigeria. Specifically, Section 10 states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.” This prohibition, although inserted by a Muslim military head of State, was meant to protect everyone and foster religious harmony in this diverse country.

Against the backdrop of the doomsday prophesy by our western allies that Nigeria may disintegrate in 2015, we should be looking for political parties that have no ethno-religious sentiments. We need a party for all Nigerians and a non-sectorial President in 2015. Let us forget zoning and open the field to all Nigeria, where the best qualified candidate wins. Mediocrity should no longer be enthroned in the giant of Africa.