Of the Shi’ites and the Nigerian Federal Government

Following the declaration of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as a terrorist group by the Federal High Court, Abuja and proscription order of the group obtained by the Federal Government, the government is set to publish the order in the official gazette by Monday, July 29, 2019.

For people who neglect news and are unbothered by shiite and El zakzaky news. I mean, really who is he? How will knowing him help in paying fees can ring in our individual’s mind.

But then, it’s a Nigeria Issue and we have to be informed about things happening around us. An Enlightened mind is powerful.

So who and what are the Shi'ite?

The Shi'te also known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria was founded by Sheikh Zakzaky in the early 1980s.

The organization was meant to serve the Shiites of the country socially, culturally, and educationally. Based in Zaria, the movement has so far established a series of charities and clinics. With recent clashes with security officers, protest for the release of their leader and uproar caused by this movement. The movement has been declared a Terrorist group by the Federal Government. According to Nnamdi Obasi, Senior Analyst on Nigeria at the International Crisis Group (ICG), the IMN’s(Islamic Movement Nigeria) goals are twofold: “to ensure more stringent application of Islamic legal and administrative systems...then ultimately to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.”

WHO IS EL ZAKZAKY AND HIS CONNECTION WITH IMN

Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky is an outspoken and foremost Shi'a Muslim cleric in Nigeria.

Zakzaky is the primary figure and spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (formerly: Muslim Brothers ), Africa’s most prominent Shi'a Muslim movement. Of Nigeria’s 180 million population, around 50 percent are Muslim, a small minority of which belong to Shi'a Islam. Sheikh al-Zakzaky was injured and arrested along with his wife, in the 2015 Zaria massacre, in which three of his remaining sons, as well as hundreds of his followers, were killed by the Nigerian Army. According to cable news, On January 22nd, 2019, Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenathead to the Kaduna High Court for hearing on the bail application. On July 2019, in order to demand the release of Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, hundreds of people gathered outside government buildings and policemen tried to disperse them by using gunshots and tear gas. During the clash, two people died and 40 protesters were arrested by police. The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a group of Nigeria's minority Shia Muslims, said protests will continue until they secure the release of el-Zakzaky.

 

Another clash with   Shi'ite Muslim protesters in the capital Abuja and gunfire could be heard, according to a Reuter witness. The Shi'ite group marched in protest against the continued detention of its leader, despite a court ruling claimed many lives both of the Shi'tes, police officers and a young reporter, Precious Owolabi under NYSC . A Deputy Commissioner of Police also lost his life during the clash.

IS PROSCRIBING SHI'ITE TERRORIST GROUP THE RIGHT WAY

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana , and Chief Mike Ozekhome on an Interview  with Channels Television, have  condemned the proscription of the group, saying it is unconstitutional. The proscription, according to Femi Falana  is an attempt by the government to stop Shiite members from demanding the release of their leader and his wife. The secretary to the academic forum of the movement, Abdullahi Musa, in an interview with TheCable on Saturday also said All they want is to suppress the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) just to please Saudi Arabia. They want to kill Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and silence all of us.”

Numerous people has also ascribed the proscription as discriminatory on the ground that Buhari administration has refused to proscribe herdsmen that have allegedly been killing Nigerians for a long time. All evidence to prove that the Fulani Herdsman are responsible for killings are abound, yet the administration was proposing RUGA to placate the Fulani Herdsman.

Declaring Shi'ite is unconstitutional and discriminatory. You can't choose to turn a blind eye to groups that needs more proscribing as being terrorist.

Opinion: When Opposition Goes Wrong by Awosusi Opeyemi

For so long the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been marauded with leadership crisis. This is however not uncommon to the party as it has always been inflicted with one party crisis or the other, from the onset. The pioneer chairman of the PDP served for just three months due to the inordinate quest for power by some individuals in the party.

Fast forward to the present day Nigeria, one would only wonder if there is any opposition party in the country at all. This is not farfetched from the fact that the PDP which is supposed to be the paradigm of critical evaluation and subtle opposition of the government in power has not been able to put its house in order; one can only liken the PDP to a toothless tiger which only roars but  cannot subtly, and out of Nigeria's loyalty, critically appraise and help to set the APC-led government back on track whenever the need arises.

Several loyalists of the APC have argued that the government in power is the choice of the people - this no doubt, is the beauty of Democracy. However the question to ponder on is "What measures are in place to ensure the sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria?". We must not be too quick to commit the fallacy that Democracy is all about exercising our rights, indeed it is about adequate and efficient representation of the masses.

In a situation where the APC has been voted into power and they have relented in ensuring the adequate security and welfare of poor Nigerians, which is the primary function  of every government, the PDP wallowed in a play of political agility and sociological ignorance. Several persons have hoped to see the PDP help in putting the APC-led government on its toes; this hope has not only been shattered, but an exclusive mirage. Parties are more interested in playing bitter politics than clamour for the good of the people. How pathetic!

Heavyweight looters and perpetual law breakers cross-carpet to the APC everyday to enrich their pockets which confirms the yoruba sage saying that 'owo epo l'araye n bani la, won o ki n bani la owo eje' literarily meaning 'the world only stays with you when the going gets smooth'. This further reminds me of the popular song by the pop star,  Lil kesh that "NO FAKE LOVE". The political parties in Nigeria have successfully failed in serving as vital tools for a purpose-driven country, when it is time for elections, the party candidates buy roasted corn from the streetside just to 'acclimatize' with the people: indeed, this is fake love.

One could begin to wonder if cross-carpeting has aided our country at all, well, this is a discourse for another blessed day.

It is pretty saddening that opposition parties in the country always refuse to work hand-in-hand with the ruling party and prefer to sabotage efforts of the government in power: the so called ``watchdog`` function they claim to perform is a sheer opium of the masses.

Of recent did the supreme court declare Makarfi the substantive chairman of the PDP in a suit filed by Ali-Modu Sheriff, his PDP rival; although Sheriff's faction claims the judgement to be morally unjust, the law is absolute! It is high time the opposition parties in Nigeria began to perform their watchdog duties and work together with any government in power rather than playing bitter politics as obtainable in Nigeria.

Some political parties however parade themselves in the argument that their major objective is to capture power - Good! But can something else laudable and worthwhile  be done on behalf of the poor masses even before gaining power?

Parties must realise that if Nigeria fails under a political party, it is to the detriment of the populace and not just that of the party in power, therefore, checks should be put in place to move the country forward.

If the Democratic party of the USA is able to put President Trump on his toes, to follow the right path and use the most efficient strategies, then this feat is achievable in Nigeria as well.

We have all pledged our allegiance to our dear country Nigeria, and nothing shall set us back no more!

42 anti-malaria drugs banned in Europe still consumed in Nigeria, says Senate

THE Senate yesterday raised the alarm that all the forty two anti- malaria drugs banned in Europe were still being stockpiled, sold and consumed in Nigeria.
According to the Senate, the situation is already trending and generating panic as well as concern among medical practitioners and members of the public.
Against this backdrop, the Senate has mandated the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), led by Senator Olarewaju Tejuoso, APC, Ogun Central, to urgently carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back to the Senate for further action to save the lives of Nigerians.
The resolution of the Senate was sequel to a motion by Senator Theodore Orji, PDP, Abia Central.
In his presentation, Senator Orji said: “The Senate notes that recently the European Union banned the sale and consumption of 42 Anti-Malaria Drugs in all countries within the European Union;

“It notes that the 42 Anti-Malaria Drugs are: Alaxin 60mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine)B/8; Alaxin oral suspension (dihydroartémisinine) FL/80ml; Amodiaquine 200mg compressed B/1000; Amodiaquine 200mg compressed B/1000; Arinate 100mg tablet (artésunate) B/6; Arinate 50mg tablet (artésunate) B/6; Arsumax 50mg tablet (artésunate) B/12; Artemax 60mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B/8; Artémédine 40mg capsule (artemether) B/12; Artémédine 50mg tablet (artemether) B/12; and Artenam 50mg tablet (artemether) B/14.

“Also on the list are Artenam 60mg tablet (artemether) B/8; Artésiane 300mg child powder oral suspension (artemether) FL/38g; Artésunate 100mg compressed B/120; Artésunate 50mg tablet B/120; Artexin 60mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B/8; Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B/9; Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B/25 blisters; and others.

Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B/55 blisters; Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiquine) B/24; Camoquin 600 mg tablet (amodiaquine) B/3; Camoquin oral suspension 50mg/ 5ml (amodiaquine) FL/60ml; Cotecxin oral suspension (dihydroartémisinine) FL/80ml; Cotecxin 60mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B/8; Daraprim tablet (pyriméthamine) B/30; and Falcinil 50mg tablet (artésunate) B/12.