Chief Imam of University of Abuja Central Mosque, Taofik Abdul-Azeez, has alleged that government is actually profiting from menace of the terrorists group, Boko Haram, while Nigerians are left to bear the brunt .
He also declared that contrary to the wide spread notion that Boko Haram had link with Islam, the group was a product of media coinage, but owned by the ruling party in Nigeria. Speaking on the topic ,“Surviving the Global Onslaught on Islam” ,the lecturer reviewed Nigeria’s political system and came to the conclusion that unless the electorates wake up from their slumber and seek the right education ,the hardship being visited on them would not abate .
The programme was the annual Ramadan lecture, organised by Da’awah Front of Nigeria (Ondo-Ekiti branch) at Government House Mosque, Ado-Ekiti.
Abdul-Azeez distanced Islam from the dastardly acts being committed by Boko Haram and Al-Qaida groups ,insisting that their modus operandi have clearly disconnect them from Islam. Boko-Haram, he noted, is one of the manifestations of evil consequences of desperation of the politicians to grab power, insisting that only government who knows how the group came about could end its menace.
The lecturer enumerated seven sentiments which the West used in fighting Islam and its adherents, the first and most potent being media propaganda. He decried a situation where Muslims who are fighting genuine course or making legitimate demands are tagged as, fanatics, fundamentalists, extremists and of later terrorists.
His words, “Boko Haram is not an Islamic group as the media would want the public to believe. The truth of the matter is that the word ‘Boko-Haram’ is a media creation and the group is actually owned by the ruling party in Nigeria. I can tell you government is making a lot of money from Boko Haram. Nobody can claim to be fighting for Islam and kill people indiscriminately, even Muslims, and set places of worship on fire. We have seen all these playing out in the engagements of Boko Haram.”
On the issue of child marriage, the cleric described it an escapist and diversionary tactics by the Senate to elicit needless debate, adding that Nigerians are more interested in asking questions about the dismal performances of members of the National Assembly, giving the colossal resources which the nation had to contend with in funding the two chambers.
“Nigerians must ask members of the Senate about the huge salaries they are taken for doing nothing. They should ask question about their irresponsibility and dastardly acts .They should ask them why they have failed to bring government to account for the glaring maladministration,” he said.
The Imam urged Muslims to shun unnecessary criticism of one another and cultivate the habit of verifying whatever religious doctrines they are confronted with. Doing so, he hoped, would save many innocent believers from fallen into traps of the enemies.
He traced the multi-various problems confronting the nation to unwholesome activities of political party owners, who often manipulate the majority for their selfish agenda under the guise of democracy.