*THE ISLAAMIC AQIIDAH.*
*Episode Twenty*
*THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND STATE IN ISLAAM: THE NIGERIA CASE STUDY*
This episode is dedicated to the practical reality of the social sciences concepts so far discussed under the online publication, "the Islamic 'Aqiidah" series.
As already established in this discourse, 'Aqiidah (ideology) is a fundamental aspect of the religion of Islaam and it entails Tawhiid (oneness of Allah) as well as the Islamic perspective to all matters of life captured by the secular concept of, or the term, ideology. The application of the related concepts to reflect the reality of state affairs in Nigeria is hereby brought under focus in order for the true understanding of 'Aqiidah (ideology) to be appreciated.
From the elusive discourse of this subject matter so far, the correct inference that could be drawn has been that ideology is the articulation and application of ideas with which affairs of mankind are determined, using the government as the machinery by which, the people are governed or the affairs of the people are determined.
Given the current dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi Lamido II on 14/07/1441 (09/03/2020) by the Kano State Governor, Abdullah Umar Ganduje, the ideological or political matters arising include the following:
The Nigerian state is a secular authority or government. Going by the hierarchy of authority, the Local Government Chairmen and of course the state Governors are ranked higher in status than the traditional rulers in the names of Emirs, Obas, Obis, etc. Given this reality and the fact that the traditional rulers are under the pay roll of the government, the traditional rulers are expected to take directives from the Local, State and Federal Governments.
The understanding of the above facts notwithstanding, Sanusi Lamido assumed the posture of an independent and paramount ruler who posed to be representing the Islamic leadership of the 1804 Shaykh Uthmaan ibn Fuudii led Jihaad. It is therefore assumed that the office and the person of the Emir of Kano should not be subservient to the Local or State Governments or Governor. This is where Sanusi Lamido and the Muslims who think like him got it wrong. As for the personality of Sanusi Lamido, he is a Muslim, an acclaimed scholar of Islaam. He is in no doubt a scholar of the secular fields of endeavours. He is critical, blunt and uncompromising. He has records of financial discipline and anti corruption posture. As good as these qualities are, Sanusi Lamido failed to understand that he is operating in a secular system where truth and integrity are not only not welcomed but are abhorred. Instead of cooperating with the Islamic vanguard in sincere efforts to bring about Islamic system of governance, he dissipates his energy in trying to Islamize kufr or secularism.
The allegations against the Emir as elucidated by Governor Ganduje therefore included the claim that Sanusi Lamido was entirely guilty of insubordination by refusing to, attend the state council's meetings called by the Governor, take and implement directives of the Governor and the likes. The other latent offences of Sanusi Lamido that could be read from his statements included criticizing and faulting the state Governor's governance and leadership style and the likes.
The case of Sanusi Lamido has therefore been seen as disrespecting, antagonistic and insubordination. He was also seen as "one who bites the fingers that feed him". He was also considered as one who is negligent of the saying that "he who pays the piper dictates the tune".
History has it that Sanusi Lamido's father was dethroned from the same office in 1963. In 1983, Ibrahim Dasuki was dethroned as the Sultan of Sokoto by Late Sani Abacha. The Emir of Gwandu, Mustapha Jokolo was dethroned by the Kebbi state Governor, Adamu Ailero on the directive of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in June 2005. Aside from these peculiar cases in the Northern Nigeria, there are many other cases of dethronement of traditional rulers in Nigeria. The present case of Muhammad Sanusi Lamido II is therefore not strange.
Ganduje is in his own case, is a good instrument of the secular system. He is ruthless with any Islamic tendencies that Sanusi Lamido may portend.
As ideologue, the case of the two actors is an unfortunate one. This is because a good Muslim who seeks to inject Islamic values into a secular system and the other Muslim who is a secularist serving the secular system faithfully will both fail given the parameters of assessment of Islaam. It is understood that when there is conflict of civilizations or ideologies, there is bound to be the victor and the vanquished. The victor will continue to dominate over and suppress the vanquished in a bid to keep the vanquished under control and ensure it does not takeover control from the the victor. The truth of the matter is that the existing Emirate system does not represent the Islamic ideological persuasion that transforms into the Islamic government. This is because it does not possess the features of The Islamic Movement poised to bring about the Islamic government. It must however be appreciated that it is wrong for any system of leadership to freely exist under a dominating ideological based system of government. Such system be it traditionally, ideologically or religiously inclined must take the form of a movement, possess the features of a movement and its vanguard take its members through the stages of revolution till it attains the political status of a government. Let those who are either confused not be decieved to believing that different civilizations or people of different ideological camps can coexist without political crises or conflicts.
The Muslims' ideology with which life affairs are to be determined is Islaam. The path to the attainment of the goal of the the Islamic 'Aqiidah is the path of Jihaad fii sabiilillaah (striving in the cause of Allah). Jihaad is part of Islaam divinely ordained to lead the Muslims to the attainment of the goal of Islaam. Failure to tread the noble and the divine path will always set mankind at odd with the Creator and the Lord of the universe and worldly humiliation. The earlier the divine message is understood and practised the better and happier for mankind.
Has not the time arrived for the believers to submit with submissive hearts to the remembrance of Allah and to the truth He has revealed, so that they may not become like those who were given the Book before this, even though their term was prolonged for them but their hearts became hardened? And most among them were transgressors. (Al Hadiid, Qur'an Chapter 57 v 16).
Those given books before the Muslims' Qur'an are the Christians and the Jews. They were given ample opportunity to embrace the divine message, Islaam and live goodly life but they rather chose to rebel against Allah and corrupted their religion and the divine books. They succumbed to humanly coined ideologies with which life affairs are determined. They by this earned the wrath and curse of Allah.
O Muslims! "Do not be like the disbelievers" is the divine admonition as contained in the above verse of the Qur'an. Neither the material pursuits nor the fear of death should debar you from the truth that has been revealed by Allah. These will neither guarantee you of earthly enjoyment nor the eternal salvation. Your supposed concern is how to secure liberation from the alluring things of life. Sincere efforts to identity with, understand and attain the truth is your saving grace. Be ideologically inclined by treading the true path in your own interest.