Hon. Yusuf Zailani, member of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, representing Igabi West Constituency, is the Vice-Chairman, Committee on Security and Intelligence in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. In this interview with FEMI ADI, he blames religious leaders for the Sharia crises that engulfed the state in 2000. He also suggests the way out of the divide that exists between Christians and Muslims in the state
Q: Several years after the Sharia crises in Kaduna, Christians and Muslims are still living apart. Do you think the Peace and Security Colloquium organised recently could help solve this problem?
A: I think the Peace and Security Colloquium initiative by Governor Namadi Sambo is a welcome idea, as it might go a long way in solving the seeming perpetual divide between Christians and Muslims in the state. Of course, the government and different organisations in the past had attempted to solve the problem, but failed. That is not to say this initiative will fail. We hope the colloquium might serve as an avenue to dialogue and find a lasting solution to this ugly and unacceptable development in the state. All over the world I have never seen where people of a particular religion live alone, not even in Saudi Arabia or Israel. Our constitution recognises the two religions and by extension, our co-existence, so why is the situation different in Kaduna?
Q: Who do you blame for the Sharia crises that claimed many lives and caused wanton destruction of property in the state eight years ago?
A: The religious leaders of course. If the politicians did not educate the people enough before embarking on the implementation of Sharia in the state, the religious leaders should have been able to do so. There is no pastor or imam who will claim that he does not understand what Sharia entails and whom it is meant for. We are living apart in the state because these same religious leaders have planted the seed of discord among us. Even when it is obvious that they were responsible for the two Sharia crises that claimed hundreds of lives in the state, they remain unrepentant as they still encourage their followers to pack away from zones they say are danger zones.
There are also instances where imams and pastors preached messages that encouraged disunity. And you know that followers of any faith, be it Christianity or Islam, believe in whatever the clerics preach and tell them. This is the reason I have advocated against religious leaders preaching messages capable of inciting or causing disharmony among the people. Before the outbreak of the Sharia crises in the state in the year 2000, Kaduna was one state you would love to spend the rest of your life in, if you were visiting for the first time, just because of the peace and calm that existed then. But today, it’s a different ball game.
Q: You seem to exonerate the politician from the blame; why?
A: It is because the people have the right to vote in or vote out a politician. So if a politician is not doing the right thing the power lies in the hands of the people to compel such a politician to leave office. But for a religious leader, it is not so. Sometimes whatever they say is final. I have watched a film where a religious leader told his followers to drink a concoction so that they would die and meet God and they did so. That is how powerful religious leaders are. Well, I don’t blame the politician like the religious leaders who misinterpreted the intention of the politician. If the politician is ignorant of the consequences of his action, the religious leaders should not be.
Q: What are you doing as lawmakers to ensure that the unity that existed between Muslims and Christians is restored?
A: As lawmakers, we are trying our best to ensure that we make laws that would help foster peace and harmony in the state. This is why in the first place, the committee on Security and Intelligence was inaugurated in the House. We are saddled with the responsibility to X-ray the potential of lasting peace and security among the people, whether Christian or Muslim.
Q: Now the state is divided along religious lines, what would you suggest as the way out of this situation?
A: The way out is simple. Let all the religious leaders preach messages of peace and unity and see the magic that would happen. Our politicians too should avoid making statements capable of causing disharmony. We are in an era where people must live together to achieve meaningful development. The implementation of Sharia is good because it would help curb the excesses of people in the society. But it is meant for only Muslims.
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