… Challenge Lawmakers to address Security Challenges not controversial Bill
Daniel Atori
The passage of the controversial Hisbah bill by the Niger State House of Assembly has garnered more criticism in the past few days as the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Niger state Council and another group under the auspices of Niger State Concerned Christian Advocates on Wednesday described the action of the state Lawmakers as an attempt to destabilize the peace of the state.
While supporting the position taken by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which did not only condemned the bill, but urged the state Governor, Umaru Bago not to assent to it, the Boys Brigade in a 12 points communique issued after an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council in Minna, the state capital on Tuesday signed by State Secretary Organizing, Mr. Samson Japhet Pada called on the State Governor, His Excellency Farmer Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago not to sign the controversial bill into law.
According to the Communiqué “the Boys Brigade, Niger State Council wholeheartedly support the position already taken by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter which condemned the passage of the bill.
“What Niger State needs at this critical moment in the face of both security and economic challenges, is a law or legislation that will address the security situation in the state in order to enhance economic growth and well being of the people”.
It therefore described the sponsor of the bill as an agent of destabilization, advising Christians to be vigilant when people come to canvass for votes from them in the forthcoming elections.
The Boys Brigade cautioned the Governor that the Hisbah bill, if signed into law will further worsen the fragile economy of the state just like Shari’a law of 2001 which stagnated the development of the state due to exodus of people and business organizations from the state in the aftermath of its implementations.
Accordingly, it states that “Niger State is yet to recover from the social and economic setback after the introduction of the shari’a law. We cannot afford another experience of the shari’a law.
“Hisbah bill is a direct threat to the peace and stability of the state known for peaceful coexistence among diverse ethnic and religious groups”.
The Boys Brigade then suggested that rather than Hisbah bill, the sponsor of the bill should come up with a bill to address the street begging (Almajiri) phenomenon in the state which has continued to constitute nuisance to the entire northern Nigeria.
“We strongly believed that the growing poverty, and the number of out-of-school children in the state, and in Chanchaga local government in particular should be of great concern to the sponsor of the bill and the state house of assembly instead of Hisbah bill.
“Come up with a bill to address these menace. People need genuine development and not Hisbah bill. We saw it in other states and it did not bring any development to such state.
“While the Boys Brigade strongly support the need for moral discipline in the society, religious institutions should be saddled with the responsibility of inculcating moral discipline on its followers and not Hisbah”.
The Boys Brigade also expressed concern that the Hisbah board as contained in Clause 4 in the bill, is a way of creating jobs opportunities for only Muslim faithful in the state to the detriment of Christians, as all the board members shall consist of only Muslims (Clause 6(1), A and B.
In addition, it further that the duties and functions of the Hisbah board shall infringe on the right of non- Muslims, especially Christians as contained in Clause 9 (1) (h, j, n and o) “because this will be in direct conflict with section 38(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion for all Nigerians”.
The Boys Brigade therefore called on all Christians in the state to pray against the signing of the bill into law, and against any agent of destabilization of the peace of the state, hiding under religion.
The Boys Brigade also called on all Christians, especially Boys Brigade members in the state to get their voters card ready and vote out any individual in the coming elections whose actions are capable of destabilizing the peace of the state.
“We equally urged Christians in the state come out of their shell and take active part in politics as that is the only way their voice can be hard”, the communique added.
Similarly, a group under the auspices of Niger State Concerned Christian Advocates has called on the Governor not to sign the Hisbah bill into law saying “such a bill if assented to can set the State on fire”.
In a Communiqué signed by its Chairman, Marshal Okoro, the Group expressed its unequivocal rejection of the proposed Hisbah Commission Bill currently under consideration in Niger State.
Accordingly, Okoro said “after careful deliberation, we strongly condemn the proposed establishment of a state-backed Hisbah Commission under the administration of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
“We respectfully urge His Excellency, the Governor, to withhold assent to the bill should it be passed by the State House of Assembly, in order to safeguard constitutional integrity and preserve social harmony.
“As a Group that means well for the unity and peace of our dear State, we align fully with the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter in rejecting the proposed legislation on constitutional and equity grounds.
He then called on the Niger State House of Assembly to reconsider the bill in the broader interest of constitutional compliance and social cohesion.
