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Nigeria’s future ‘ll be
stable, if...- Sheikh Khalil
By USMAN GWADABE
A MEMBER of Nigerian Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, has predicted
that the future of Nigeria’s democracy will be bright and stable.
According to him, in the next 12 years, the nation’s polity will be one of
the best democracies produced in contemporary times.
“But this would only be realised if a coup d’etat does not occur to
destabilise the system . This could be as a result of the selfish interest
of the nation’s enemies”, he lamented.
Shiekh Khalil made this prediction in an exclusive interview with Sunday
Triumph, noting that the symbiotic relationship between the North and South
to quash the tenure elongation bid of President Obasanjo was an indication
of blessings for the country.
He pointed out that democracy has now provided an avenue whereby the
citizenry express their opinions on national issues and these are respected
and appreciated by others.
The Kano-born Islamic scholar predicted that a time would come when
Nigerians will collectively agree to the amendment of the constitution to
enable their leaders stay for more than two terms.
He reasoned that Nigerians are flexible. They easily adapt to new changes,
recalling that “they forgave civil war lords and pardoned the nation’s
treasury looters. Today people are associating with them happily despite
their crimes to humanity”, he stated, adding that recent survey conducted by
the BBC has revealed that Nigerians are the most happiest human beings on
earth.
The moderate Islamic jurist advised that credible people with proven
integrity must be persuaded to join politics as well as aspire for elective
posts, emphasising that they were in the right position to bring about
socio-economic and political stability due to their sincerity and humane
attitude towards the less privileged in the society.
Khalil also called on youths to strive hard and pursue a sound worldly and
religious education to enable them become socially-civilised and oriented in
order to have a meaningful and decent life.
He advised present and past leaders to desist from rancour and disclosure of
government secrets unless where necessary so that there will be continuity
in the nation’s peaceful co-existence. He said he was convinced that the
participation of some Ulama in the nation’s politics would significantly
help in sanitising the system to direct its focus from money politics to a
politics of ideology.
He advised the Ulama not to allow ambitious politicians who do not have
sympathy for the people in their minds to use them to achieve their selfish
interests.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER
26 2006