Who Owns Islam In Nigeria?

I am grateful to God Almighty for making me a follower of the Islamic faith before I was thrown into the repugnant strings of claims and counter claims of its owners, forerunners or custodians in Nigeria. Islam will remain what it is and some Muslims will remain what they are.

As parochial as this topic may seem to be, it may give an insight on why the supremacy of who lords over Islam in Nigeria should not have risen in the first place. Whether it be true or measly flippant imagination, there is struggle uncalled in the handling of Islamic matters in Nigeria. And this has endangered the Ummah in the face of international Muslim community.

When I was young, I used to think that there is no division amongst Muslims. That is how it should be. At least I was correct in my belief because that is what Islam says: Muslims can disagree as human beings but not in affairs affecting the Ummah. I was not born into a full-fledged Muslim family. My father was a Muslim before the civil war and he dedicated his life for the religion and fought with the Igbo Muslim preacher, Sheikh Ibrahim Nwagui to establish Islam in my village in particular and Igboland in general. In fact, he was imprisoned for several months for accepting Islam and for supporting the spread of Islam in those days. He believed in the strength of his chaplet which he used to glorify Allah to the best he could.

My dear mother, though very religiously liberal and tolerant, did not accept Islam till she died. Both of them lived and tolerated each other. But something was always a trouble: the path to follow by the children. And it manifested that the children at maturity were left to choose their religions of choice: Christianity, Islam and paganism. It is such a difficult circumstance to keep these three defiantly conflicting beliefs under one roof. In our own case, it was managed carefully and though our parents are no more, we can still look at the faces of one another and smile, especially when religious discussions are not entertained.

My teachers, then, because I attended a Christian missionary primary school which though became a community school, would tell me to accept Christianity because Islam is cultism; Islamic preaches killings; Islam is for Hausas; Islam is this and that. I was moderately stubborn and would tell the teachers: “I will tell my father.” Unfortunately my father was late before I was six and my elder brother who lived outside my village took care of me and simply I thought he was my father even at ten. One of my teachers I could remember called me out of the assembly for not shouting “amen” after the assembly conductor had concluded his prayers and said “In Jesus name”. Unaware of his presence behind me, I had kept silent. He knew that I was a Muslim but what did I know then.

He tapped me from behind and asked me to go out of the line. It was a public disgrace and that is why it cannot easily escape my memory though I often prefer not to sing it everywhere. He said to me: “This small boy, what is wrong with you. You claim that you are Muhammad. In short from today, your name is Michael. If I catch you silent next time, you will be in soup.” Being in soup was a common language for threat or punishment by teachers then. “Who owns this your religion self. Nonsense!” he proclaimed.

That day I went home with the question: who owns this your religion? And I did not know who owns Islam by then, neither could I get a soothing answer than the talk that it was the Hausas because they were the people practicing it around the vicinities. This was manifest too when we were told that Sheikh Ibrahim Nwagui conquered my village with the Hausa mallams. During the civil war, it was widely believed within the vicinities that the Hausa soldiers took control of the Islamic center established by the late Sheikh to defend one Nigeria.

Till the early 80s when I joined the School of Arabic and Islamic Studies situated right in my own village, no better explanation could be offered against the general belief on the ownership of Islam in Nigeria. However, the Yoruba who were playing key roles in spreading Islam in other parts of the region began to pronounce their presence. So, it has been the show of strength and prominence between the two major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria on who really owns Islam.

Islam, as I know today is not supposed to be owned by individuals or ethnic groups. It is a universal creed brought to all mankind by Prophet Muhammad who was an Arab by nationality. And it has steadily spread across the world, really not by mere efforts of mankind, but by the divine support of Allah Who has decreed that the message will spread even against the strong opposition by the non-Muslims. Yet, both the Qur’an and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad warned against complacency by Muslims. Here, although, is not an avenue to talk about which point Islam entered Nigerian first, my concern is how Islam has fared.

Unfortunately, Islam has become a tool through which forces of oppression and ego are displayed. We can recall how the Jama’tu Nasril Islam (JNI) used to operate and the allegation on how the northern oligarchy maneuvered its operations. The leadership of the organization most times reechoed the superiority complex of the two giant tribes of Nigeria. Then late super and fearless jihadist, Dr. Abdullateef Adegbite, with efforts of few individuals gave birth to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Many people believed the formation was primarily to counter the domineering grip of JNI on Islamic affairs at the national level. To some, JNI is of the north while NSCIA is of the Southwest. By further explanation JNI is for Hausas; NSCIA is for Yorubas.

That struggle for supremacy is still alive, though Justice Abdulqadir Orire once the general scribe of the JNI was said to be a Yoruba. And in NSCIA today, the leadership speaks for itself. As for the National Conference of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), the tussle continues. And when you come to the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), no much difference in this context is palpable. Though often said than done: “We are one”, has always been the resort by Muslim leaders.

In all these, where are other Muslims of Nigeria especially the Igbo Muslims that are supposed to be the third largest Muslim ethic group in Nigeria? Nowhere! Conferences are held on their behalves in their own states but one wonders of what benefit the conferences have been. In their states, the Hausas and Yorubas lord over the Islamic affairs. Why will the Igbo not continue to prove right that Islam belongs to the Hausas and Yorubas, despite the fact that the Igbo leaderships do not in any way want Islam to thrive in Igboland.

According to an interview published by Bende Analyst newspapers, Sheikh Adam Idoko explained that Islam was older than Christianity in Igboland. If this fact was anything to go by, then Muslims of the north and the west are responsible for the misfortunes of Islam in Igboland. It is either they got Islam and have been economical in spreading it in Igboland or they got it and hoarded it for private aggrandizement. Whichever way, the plight of Islam in Igboland cannot be unconnected with the complacency of the Muslims in these majority areas as well as the height of levity with which Muslim affairs are handled in the region.

Another interview with the Weekly Trust newspapers in March 2009 by Ustaz Dr. Amin Igwegbe asserted that the Igbo have been Muslims as far back as 1900. “Islam is not new in Igboland. I know we have over two million Igbo Muslims today though the number is not much. We have learned Muslim scholars. My concern is not even the number but the quality of the Igbo Muslims. Afikpo is a model Islamic community. If you are there, you will think you are in the North”, he said.

“My experience as a Director of Administration for an Apex Islamic Organization in Nigeria (NSCIA) for 13 solid years has proven to me that the acclaimed custodians of Islam are actually working against the propagation of the religion in Igboland; they are simply using Islamic propagation in the area for their own selfish interest and Allah is watching!! The Igbo proverb says: “the water from snail is used in cooking snail. Let them ponder over this. Even the Arabs can never claim to be the custodians of Islam as it is done in Nigeria today, it is ONLY Allah that is the Custodian and Protector of His Holy Book, the Qur’an, and His Religion, Islam”

Furthermore, Daily Trust in July 2012 spoke with Sheikh Usman Anaga who blew hot on the challenges faced by the Igbo Muslims. “The perception is that if you are an Igbo man and you decide to become a Muslim, then you are not a normal human being. This perception of Islam in the east came about largely due to inadequate publicity and awareness campaigns”, he rattled.

And so many other interviews, statements, communiqués and situation reports by prominent Igbo Muslim scholars, all pointing to the ingenuity in strengthening Islam in their area by themselves were there enough religious spirit cum will towards that by the Islamic leadership in Nigeria. Rather than actions, lip services have remained the friendship defence.

Hitherto, some things remain worrisome. Why do these Muslims fear to empower the Igbo Muslims to carry out the spread of Islam in their areas? Are the Igbo Muslims being treated fairly in the Islamic affairs in Nigeria? In all the above mentioned organizations, where are the Igbo Muslims in the leadership? How do they respond to issues concerning the Igbo Muslims who are merely looked down upon as beggars and tagged “Yamiri” or “ajaokuta mamamiri”. Despite the presence of insignificant efforts by individuals, no one has been man enough to do the needful; rather they back on ancestral immunity to cause more harm and disunity amongst the Igbo Muslims in the east.

This calls for deep reflection. It is always a difficult task to aid people who are nobody. Igbo Muslims are definitely not “nobody” because being a Muslim is already enough heavenly empowerment. What more favours does a man require if guided to be a Muslim! Nonetheless, in Islam, aids to people chiefly a presumed category of “nobody” is immeasurable. The truth is always bitter. But if there is any sense in this message, let it manifest. If, howbeit, there is nothing reasonable to reckon, let it go as normal to the bin but let me be. And lest the day continues to revolve unnoticed, what Allah has decreed, no man can change. He is not a man who reclines on mere ancestral proclivity; he is a man who treads the odds for a difference. All of us are mere tools under the Overpowering Hands of Allah.

Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected].