There have been renewed calls by non-Muslim Nigerians for the Central Bank of Nigeria to remove the Arabic writings on the nation’s currency, the Naira. The most notable of these is the statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in its press release issued some weeks back in reaction to the introduction of Islamic Banking by the Central Bank of Nigeria. CAN also called on the Federal Government to terminate Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) which it said the government of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida “surreptitiously smuggled” Nigeria into in 1986. CAN equally asked the government to stop the reported plans by the Debt Management Office (DMO), as announced by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, while attending an Islamic Banking Conference in Senegal, that the government would be issuing “Sovereign Islamic Sukuk Bonds” within 18 months.
Last week, the newspapers reported that there was a meeting in Abuja to facilitate the use of Sovereign Islamic Sukuk Bonds to finance Nigeria’s infrastructural development. Reportedly, the meeting had in attendance Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (the Central Bank Governor), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (the Director General of the Debt Management Office), Mr. Mansur Ahmed (the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission), Mrs. Hajara Adeola (Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Capital, which has as its corporate slogan “pioneering Islamic Finance in Nigeria”), and a representative of Jaiz International Bank Plc, which has purportedly been given an “approval-in-principle to operate as an Islamic Bank in Nigeria” (a concept which is totally unknown to Nigeria’s extant banking law and the Nigerian Constitution). It appears the CBN Governor is determined to present the nation with a fait accompli with regard to the issuance of “Nigerian Sovereign Islamic Sukuk Bonds” even though Nigeria is not an Islamic country and it even makes no economic sense to choose that form of financing which is much more expensive in real terms than the international bond market where our Eurobonds are trading very well.
Last week, the newspapers reported that there was a meeting in Abuja to facilitate the use of Sovereign Islamic Sukuk Bonds to finance Nigeria’s infrastructural development. Reportedly, the meeting had in attendance Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (the Central Bank Governor), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (the Director General of the Debt Management Office), Mr. Mansur Ahmed (the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission), Mrs. Hajara Adeola (Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Capital, which has as its corporate slogan “pioneering Islamic Finance in Nigeria”), and a representative of Jaiz International Bank Plc, which has purportedly been given an “approval-in-principle to operate as an Islamic Bank in Nigeria” (a concept which is totally unknown to Nigeria’s extant banking law and the Nigerian Constitution). It appears the CBN Governor is determined to present the nation with a fait accompli with regard to the issuance of “Nigerian Sovereign Islamic Sukuk Bonds” even though Nigeria is not an Islamic country and it even makes no economic sense to choose that form of financing which is much more expensive in real terms than the international bond market where our Eurobonds are trading very well.
But that is a topic for another day. Back to the subject of our discourse....
The Arabic words on the Naira are actually Hausa words in Arabic text. Here are the meanings: Naira Dubu daya (N1,000), Naira Dari biyar (N500), Naira Dari Biyu (N200) and Naira Daya (N100). The problem is that the Hausa language, like other Nigerian languages, is written in our "a-bi-di" anglicised text which is essentially English. Hausa is not usually taught, written or read in Arabic scripts in our schools in the north. Hausa newspapers are written in "a-bi-di" or our local version of English script.
The Arabic words on the Naira are actually Hausa words in Arabic text. Here are the meanings: Naira Dubu daya (N1,000), Naira Dari biyar (N500), Naira Dari Biyu (N200) and Naira Daya (N100). The problem is that the Hausa language, like other Nigerian languages, is written in our "a-bi-di" anglicised text which is essentially English. Hausa is not usually taught, written or read in Arabic scripts in our schools in the north. Hausa newspapers are written in "a-bi-di" or our local version of English script.
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo removed the Arabic words from the Naira when he became the CBN Governor and wrote the meaning of the Naira notes in our three major languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The words were written in "a-bi-di" which is the usual way ALL the languages are taught, written and read. However, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi removed the Igbo and Yoruba words from the Naira notes soon after he became the CBN Governor and changed the Hausa to Arabic script.
How many Hausa speakers in Nigeria can read, write and speak Arabic? Very few Muslims who pray by reciting the Arabic texts from the Quran actually understand the Arabic language. Most of them have memorised the Quranic quotes and some of them actually understand the specific words they recite.
Even if one concedes that Hausa must be written in Arabic script, why did Sanusi Lamido Sanusi leave out Igbo and Yoruba? And should Igbo and Yoruba also be written in Arabic script?
The insistence that there must be Arabic text on the Naira, just like the Arabic text on the logo of the Nigerian Army, underscore the genuine concern of non-Muslims that there is indeed an Islamisation agenda which dates as far back as the days of Usman Dan Fodio when Nigeria did not even exist. The Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, never hid his desire to Islamise Nigeria. He famously said that he would like to "dip the Quran in the Atlantic Ocean"; meaning he would like to see Nigeria become an Islamic nation.
I am an evangelical Christian. I have been born-again since 16th April, 1983. While I wished ALL Nigerians would accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, King and God, I cannot force anyone however subtly. I preach the Word and hope people come to conviction. But I do not need "Jesus is Lord" or any other such overtly Christian words, gestures, insignia etc. to be inscribed on the Naira or other official Nigerian documents. Salvation is personal. Religion is personal. And I respect the right of my many Muslim friends to follow Islam.
Nigeria is a secular state. Nigerians are multi-religious. The ONLY safe-guard for the liberty of every Nigerian to worship as he or she wills is the preservation of Nigeria's status as a secular state. Being a secular state does not mean Nigerians are godless. It means that, as Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended states, the government shall not adopt any religion as a "State Religion". Every action, policy, statement etc. by the government or any of its agencies or organs which show preference of any religion(s) or promote any religion(s) is a breach of the Constitution.
The erosion of Nigeria's secular status has been going on in small measures for many decades. What business does Nigeria have in sponsoring Christian and Muslim pilgrims? What business does Nigeria have in building Churches and Mosques with state funds? We must put aside our prejudices, emotions and sentiments and arise as one people with one voice to protect Nigeria's secular status and the freedom of every Nigerian to worship without the state’s support or hindrance.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
Eghes Eyieyien
Lagos; 18th July, 2011.
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