By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — Emir of Kano, Mohammadu Sanusi II, on Wednesday, took a swipe at the Northern elites for creating an Islamic society that never existed.
Sanusi, who noted that the Northern Nigeria has a complete failure of social policy, particularly schooled the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, for claiming on Tuesday that the renewed outbreak of meningitis, which has claimed hundreds of lives in parts of the country, is caused by flagrant disobedience to God.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, who took to his Instagram page to react to Yari’s misguided claim, said that, “The statement by Governor of Zamfara (State), Abdulaziz Yari, on God punishing Nigeria with meningitis is Islamically incorrect”.
The Emir, who charged the Northern governors to treat meningitis, rather than see it as the victims’ punishment by God, warned that the whole issue “is science not religion”.
He, therefore, advised them to focus on education and girl child education.
“We have this myth in Northern Nigeria. Where we try to create an Islamic society that never existed. We are fighting culture, we are fighting civilisation.
“Islam is not univocal. There are many view points. We have allowed the most conversation of them to prevail. What is the purpose of a large population, that is uneducated and jobless?
“We (Northern Nigeria) have a complete failure of social policy. To address this, we must reclaim our religion. Some 200 people died from meningitis. A governor actually said it was cause by fornication?
“If @nelrufai (Nasir Elrufai) sits with investors in London or Abu Dhabi, and tells them what he is doing, they will come invest here. There is a battle of ideologies going on. A real battle without bombs of bullets being thrown (my words).
“We should stop allowing human beings appropriate our religions for selfish reasons. I commended @nelrufai for his investment in education and for engaging investors. Growth will not come from rising oil prices or from borrowing and spending government money, it’ll come from investments.
“I am a King’s College boy. King’s College (Lagos) produces all the progressive intellectuals. It does not hurt anyone to build on the work of his predecessor. Meningitis as punishment for fornication has absolutely no basis in Islam. It is science not religion. Treat meningitis, don’t say God is punishing victims.
“It is science not religion. The statement by Governor of Zamfara (State), Abdulaziz Yari, on God punishing Nigeria with meningitis is Islamically incorrect. I advise Northern governors to focus on education and girl child education.
“I have said enough. I tried not to offend anyone. I apologized before. I apologize again. WE NEED INVESTMENTS!. Thank you all,” Sanusi wrote.
It would be recalled that Yari specifically said that fornication was the main reason God was punishing Nigeria with meningitis.
He added that God decided to send Type C of the disease, which has no vaccine as punishment for Nigerians’ nefarious activities.
Yari made the claim in an interview he granted in Hausa, shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Yari
“What we used to know, as far as meningitis is concerned, is the Type A virus.
“The World Health Organisation has carried out vaccinations against this Type A virus, not just in Zamfara, but in many other states.
“However, because people refused to stop their nefarious activities, God now decided to send Type C virus, which has no vaccination.
“People have turned away from God and he has promised that ‘if you do anyhow, you see anyhow.’ That is just the cause of this outbreak, as far as I am concerned.
“There is no way fornication will be so rampant and God will not send a disease that cannot be cured,” Yari said.
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts