ISLAMISM: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?

I used to be alarmed when Christians downplay the danger of Islamism. Not anymore. Some are sincere and ignorant. In their naivety, they think the best of all human beings and are content to remain in the bubble ideal world which they fantasise about. Some are simply in denial. 

The ones in denial understand the dangers of Islamism but, for the sake of political correctness, they cannot acknowledge the inconvenient truth about jihadist Islamists. It would upset their world. They would have to take a stance. They are conflicted. They could be called bigots. They could be called Islamophobic. They could lose face; lose friends; lose position; lose business relationships. So it serves their self interest to be indifferent. They decide to ignore the gentle tug of their conscience.

After all, they rationalise, they really need not speak out against Islamists. God understands. They must be tolerant. They must be socially acceptable. They have not rejected Jesus. Don't we all serve the same God? They would just worship God in private and not offend anyone. Faith is personal. Why upset anyone? God understands.

To be sure, I reiterate for the umpteenth time: Islam and Islamism are not the same thing. Islam is what my friend, Abba Bello, practices. Islam is what my professional mentor, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Ahmad, practices. Islam is actually what most Muslims practice. They love their friends and family like anyone else. They are peaceful and peace-loving. They are content to serve Allah and be at peace with those who choose not to do so.

Islamists are a minority. But a very vocal minority. They intimidate and antagonise the average Muslim. They think they are not genuine .Muslims. They follow the Salafist doctrine which pushes Political Islam. They want an Islamic Sultanate. They want full implementation of Shariah Law. They want everyone else to become like them......mandatorily. They want their Islamist control and domination of all spheres of human societies: education, law, judiciary, politics, religion, culture, Economics, financial services, military, government etc.

When we think of Islamists, we often imagine the Talibans, Al Qaeda, Al Shabab, ISIS, Boko Haram and other jihadist terrorists. So we ignore the Islamists who are subtle, urbane and civil. We think: how could these gentle, exposed, civilised, tolerant intellectuals, businessmen, academicians and professionals be Islamists? We are disarmed by their charm, their intelligence, their eloquence, their charisma. So we ignore the cues. We overlook the signs. We make excuses for them. After all, we went to the same school with them. They were our colleagues in the office where we worked. Surely, they could not be Islamists......like those folks who blew up the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre on 9/11. How could they be? Let us not even think about it.

How could Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi be an Islamist? How could anyone regard Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as an Islamist? Or even......

LOL! No, I will not mention other names. Some names probably came to your mind. LOL!

The violent and militant Islamists. The gentle and suave Islamists. The difference? The latter deploy Taqqiyah to great effect. But the objective is the same: to ultimately create an Islamic Sultanate. In the case of Nigeria, to dip the Quran in the Atlantic Ocean as Alhaji Ahmadu Bello said he would like to see happen some day.

Islamists and Islamism are the greatest threat to humanity today. This is why even countries with a majority Muslim population like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirate, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Qatar and Kuwait have zero-tolerance for Islamists and Islamism. They are wise.

All Nigerians, whether Muslims, Christians or people of other faiths, must rise and stand against Islamism and Islamists. The war must not be limited to the terrorists. The "benign" Islamists are just as dangerous. It is folly to assume they pose no threat. We must learn from Egypt.

God bless you.

God bless Nigeria.

Nigeria di fure!

WHO DO YOU REALLY SERVE?

In March, 2003, I traveled to a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria for a meeting with the State Governor. The state had set aside N2Billion to start a bank and wanted us to serve as the consultant to assist it obtain a Banking Licence. When I arrived at the Government House, the State Governor was in another meeting and directed the Secretary to the State Government to meet with me in his stead. There were two Commissioners in attendance at our meeting.

We had proposed a consulting fee of N25million but we were willing to accept N15million at the least. To my surprise and utter disbelief, I was told to revise our fee quote upwards to 10% of the N2Billion which the state had already set aside to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria's minimum Paid-up Share Capital requirement at the time for Deposit Money Banks. The state officials told me that we would be paid N25million as our fee as we proposed and that the balance of N175million would be theirs! They probably expected me to negotiate for a share of the N175million. I knew then that the transaction was not the Breakthrough I thought it was. At the time, I had very pressing financial obligations to meet. I walked away from the transaction.

I know God is; I know I am Heaven-bound; and I am determined that mammon would never rob me of my intimacy with God and eventually take me to hell.

The greatest rival to God on earth today is not satan. It is mammon: the Love of Money.

Men and women have done unimaginable things because of their love of money. They have stolen; they have killed; they have destroyed; they have betrayed friends, family and country; they have even sold their souls to the devil; and they have indulged in the worst perverted acts possible.....for money.

Jesus said you cannot serve two masters; you cannot serve God and mammon.

Who do you REALLY serve: God or mammon?

TIME TO BID SHEIKH RAUF AREGBESOLA FAREWELL

The good people of Osun State will be going to the polls this Saturday, 9^th August, 2014. They will be deciding who the next Governor of their state is. It is their chance to see the back of Sheikh Rauf Aregbesola, the Champion of Islamism in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is time to bid Sheikh Rauf Aregbesola farewell.

No other Yoruba politician has so overtly and unabashedly exhibited his/her religious zealotry like Rauf Aregbesola has done since he mounted the high office of the Executive Governor of Osun State. His religious bigotry is a first in the politics of South-West Nigeria. The revered sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, never allowed religion to rear its head in the politics of Yoruba land throughout his days. In the second republic, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the Governor of Lagos State at the time, came to be known as “Baba Kekere” as he was widely perceived as the respected elder statesman’s anointed successor as the Leader of the Yoruba. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a Christian. Alhaji Lateef Jakande is a Muslim. Religion was not issue in the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Unlike the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has shown that Christians are only good enough to hold office in both its Interim National Executive Committee and the newly selected National Executive Committee as Deputies and “Ex-Officio” members while reserving the key positions for Muslims, the Unity Party of Nigeria was open to people of all faiths. I have wondered whether the APC’s choice of its new NEC members was borne out of naivety, insensitivity, arrogance or sheer folly. I guess it is really hard to hide what one is at one’s core.

Sheikh Rauf Aregbesola does not even try to veil his Islamist agenda. The controversy about the use of Hijab by Muslim female students in public schools founded my Christian Missionary organisations is still fresh in our minds. To be fair to the Governor, the issue pre-dated his administration; but it was exacerbated by the ill-conceived Education Policy introduced by the Governor which made turned some single-gender schools into mixed schools and some Muslim groups attempting to impress their religious identity on schools which were originally Christian schools by encouraging Muslim girls to wear veils even though there is no consensus among Muslim scholars as to whether it is actually mandatory for girl-children to do so.

In March, 2013, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Osun State Branch, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye, and the Secretary, Rev. Father Gbenga Ajayi, had a press conference in Osogbo, the state’s capital, during which they drew the world’s attention to the Governor’s Islamic Agenda. They cited several instances of the Governor’s zealotry to prove their case. But most curious was the Governor’s change of the motto of the state. The Christian Association of Nigeria believes that the government might have changed the name of Osun State from “State of the Living Spring” to “State of the Virtuous”, because “Jesus Christ is referred to as the living spring”. No; don’t laugh just yet. Yes; I know it sounds like paranoia to read meanings into a thing as benign as the state’s slogan. But this underscores the level of religious distrust which the Governor of Osun State has needlessly foisted on his people. CAN also pointed to the declaration of a public holiday by the Aregbesola administration to mark Hijra. It noted that “not even in Sokoto, the seat of the caliphate, is Hijra declared a public holiday”. Hijra is the migration of Prophet Mohammed and his followers from Mecca to Medina.

The Governor’s relationship and patronage of the Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen (TAAWUN), a fundamental Islamist group, is curious. TAAWUN has been another subject of controversy. Aregbesola relishes controversy. TAAWUN reportedly provides security for the Governor. The Department of State Security has taken keen interest in the group. Not a few Osun indigenes have expressed fears about the group’s possible linkage with Islamist terrorist groups outside the state. 

Perhaps, the issue which most underscores Aregbesola’s Islamism is his issuance of Shariah-compliant Sukuk Bonds. The “State of Osun” Sukuk Bond was issued in October, 2013. The Sukuk Bond was issued in accordance with enactment of “the Osun State Bonds, Notes and Other Securities Law 2012” under which the Osun Sukuk Company Plc was established. The state raised the sum of N11.4Billion. Interestingly, contrary to the popular belief that Sukuk Bonds are non-interest bearing (interest charges – Riba - are considered haram in Islam and, therefore, forbidden), Osun State’s Sukuk Bond has a fixed rate of return of 14.75%. The yield offered was the same as that which the state paid in 2012 to sell a conventional seven-year bond worth N30billion. Clearly, the motivation to issue the Sukuk Bond was religious not financial. Why borrow funds with a religious connotation at the same rate as you would borrow from the secular financial markets and court needless religious acrimony? 

Anyway, our jihadist Governor was duly rewarded for being the first to issue such a Sukuk in Nigeria, nay, Sub-Saharan Africa. The transaction was given the Deal of the Year Award by Islamic Finance News in February, 2014, in Dubai.

You should read the article by Sultan Sooud Alqassemi which he titled “The Myth of Islamic Finance”. Hear what this highly-respected and committed Muslim scholar, who holds a Masters degree in Global Banking and Finance from the European Business School in London and is a non-resident Fellow at the Dubai School of Government, had to say about Islamic Finance:

“One of the latest additions to such urban legends as the Loch Ness monster, UFO’s and environmentally friendly land reclamation is what is now known as Islamic Finance. A new scam that started in the second half of the twentieth century and only really took off in the last three decades. One could wonder why the Islamic world needed 1,400 years to invent such a system. One may also wonder why we never hear of such terms as Christian, Jewish or Hindu Finance?........ Did you ever wonder why in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is the cradle of Islam there isn’t one openly Islamic bank? And yet the UAE with 20% of KSA’s population has five such banks, three of them white washed. In KSA when a client goes to open a deposit account banks openly ask her if she wants a “riba account” which means an account that pays interest, the majority of clients decline as it is seen as “morally unacceptable[8]” which leaves the banks to rack in the profits. With deposits approaching $150 Billion in 2006 and little interest charges to pay the clients no wonder they are amongst the most profitable banks in the world. A professor from the Wharton School in the US argued that “it serves little purpose to extend financing with interest charges using a set of tricks that disguise them as something else.[10]” In today’s world, more and more people are looking for salvation, even if it was a trick; in this case salvation got an Islamic disguise.”

You can Sultan read the entire article using this link: 

https://www.zawya.com/blogs/sultan/071112112645/

Shocking?! Yes. And he is a Muslim!

There are constitutional, legal and moral issues which Aregbesola’s Sukuk Bond raises and which must not be ignored especially since Nigeria is still grappling with religious tensions exacerbated by the activities of the Islamist terrorist organization, Boko Haram. Section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion”. A Sukuk Bond is issued in compliance with the requirements of Islamic Shariah Law. It is a financial instrument based on the injunctions of a particular religion: Islam. The issuance of a Sukuk Bond by the Osun State Government is an expression of its preference for Islam. This is a fundamental breach of the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution which Aregbesola swore to uphold.

Like the rest of Nigeria, the people of Osun State are multi-religious. The sensibilities of its non-Muslim population must not continue to be taken for granted. The debt-burden of a Sukuk Bond rests on all the people of Osun State; including those who are non-Muslim. Why should non-Muslim Nigerians be compelled to carry the burden of a Sukuk liability? It was wrong for Aregbesola to source loans based on compliance with the religious requirements of Islam when a large number of his constituents do not subscribe to his religion.

Some proponents of Islamic Sukuk have cited the announcement last year by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, of plans for the United Kingdom to issue a Sukuk Bond as grounds for Nigeria and other states of federation to do the same. The religious atmosphere in the United Kingdom is not comparable with Nigeria’s. In fact, unlike in Nigeria, religion increasingly plays a very little role in the lives of most of the citizens of the U.K. It is erroneous to use the U.K. situation in judging Nigeria. Religious tensions in Nigeria are real and the country remains highly vulnerable to extremist tendencies.

The issuance of the Islamic Sukuk Bond by Osun State deepened the already tense religious situation in the state and our nation. It is utterly reckless for Aregbesola, who should have been working at promoting religious harmony, to have so blatantly used religion for his own personally political ends.

It is time that the people of Osun State put an end to this obtuse bigotry of Sheikh Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It is time to send him out of the Osun State Government House. No doubt he will be at home amongst the Talibans and ISIS.

God bless Osun State.

Osun di fure!

God bless Nigeria.

Nigeria di fure!

SHOWING YOURSELF FRIENDLY

If you are highly principled, firm, blunt, strict, disciplined, outspoken, opinionated and goal-focused, do not expect to be very popular. In fact, expect to be unpopular. But know that some of those who regard themselves as your enemies are actually secret admirers! LOL! They hate your guts but somewhat find you intriguing. 

Yet, you need people to succeed in life; the RIGHT kind of people. There are many folks who are best left out in your pursuit of purpose. And there are those who, like Lot to Abraham; Saul, Ahitophel and even Absalom to David; Barnabas, Mark and Demas (to Paul), are in your life for a season, however long their tenure with you, and must yield their place in your life in due time as God takes you into new levels in your Destiny's Quest. Only your spouse should really be certain to you as a "Life Partner"! :-D

Nevertheless, you should not make yourself needlessly repulsive to people. "HE THAT HAS FRIENDS MUST SHOW HIMSELF FRIENDLY" [Proverbs 18:24]. And we can deduce from that Bible passage that he that shows himself friendly shall have friends. 

Below is an article I found very illuminating and which I believe would help you too.

SIX TOXIC BEHAVIORS THAT PUSH PEOPLE AWAY: HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN YOURSELF AND CHANGE

by KATHY CAPRINO

(https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140620200646-17850276-6-toxic-behaviors-that-push-people-away-how-to-recognize-them-in-yourself-and-change-them?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0)

In my line of work, I hear from hundreds of people a month, and connect with professionals in a more public, open way than ever before. Through this experience, I've seen scores of toxic behaviors that push people away (including me). And I’ve witnessed the damage these behaviors cause – to relationships, professional success, and to the well-being of both the individual behaving negatively, and to everyone around him or her.

Let’s be real - we’ve all acted in toxic, damaging ways at one time or another (none of us are immune to it), but many people are more evolved, balanced, and aware, and it happens only rarely in their lives.

Whether your toxic behavior is a common occurrence, or once in a blue moon, it’s critical for your happiness and success that you are able to recognize when you’re behaving badly, and shift it when it emerges.

The six most toxic behaviors I see every day are:

* Taking everything personally

In the powerful little book The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz talks about the importance of taking nothing personally. I teach this in my coaching programs and my book Breakdown, Breakthrough as well, and there is so much pushback. “Really, Kathy – don’t take anything personally?”

People are toxic to be around when they believe that everything that happens in life is a direct assault on them or is in some way all about them. The reality is that what people say and do to you is much more about them, than you. People’s reactions to you are about their filters, and their perspectives, wounds and experiences. Whether people think you’re amazing, or believe you’re the worst, again, it’s more about them. I’m not saying we should be narcissists and ignore all feedback. I am saying that so much hurt, disappointment and sadness in our lives comes from our taking things personally when it’s far more productive and healthy to let go of others’ good or bad opinion of you, and to operate with your own heart, intuition and wisdom as your guide. So yes – don’t take anything personally.

* Obsessing about negative thoughts

It’s very hard to be around people who can’t or won’t let go of negativity – when they dwell on and speak incessantly about the terrible things that could happen and have happened, the slights they’ve suffered, and the unfairness of life. These people stubbornly refuse to see the positive side of life and the positive lessons from what’s transpiring. Pessimism is one thing – but remaining perpetually locked in negative thoughts is another. Only seeing the negative, and operating from a view that everything is negative and against you, is a skewed way of thinking and living, and you can change that.

* Treating yourself like a victim

Another toxic behavior is non-stop complaining that fuels your sense of victimization. Believing you’re a victim, that you have no power to exert and no influence on the direction of your life, is a toxic stance that keeps you stuck and small. Working as a therapist with people who’ve suffered terrible trauma in their lives but found the courage to turn it all around, I know that we have access to far more power, authority, and influence over our lives than we initially believe. When you stop whining, and refuse to see yourself as a hapless victim of fate, chance or discrimination, then you’ll find that you are more powerful than you realized, but only if you choose to accept that reality.

* Cruelty - lacking in empathy or putting yourself in others shoes

One of the most toxic and damaging behaviors – cruelty – stems from a total lack of empathy, concern or compassion for others. We see it every day online and in the media – people being devastatingly cruel and destructive to others just because they can. They tear people down online but in a cowardly way, using their anonymity as a weapon. Cruelty, backstabbing, and ripping someone to shreds is toxic, and it hurts you as well as your target. 

I had a powerful learning experience about this a few years ago. I came into the house one day in a nasty mood, and shared a mean, sniping comment to my husband about the way a neighbor was parenting her child through one of his problem phases. In less than 24 hours, that very same issue the parent was dealing with came home to roost in my house, with my child. It was as if the Universe sent me the message that, “Ah, if you want to be cruel and demeaning about someone, we’ll give you the same experience you’ve judged so negatively, so you can learn some compassion.” And I did.

If you find yourself backstabbing and tearing someone else down, stop in your tracks. Dig deep and find compassion in your heart, and realize that we’re all the same.

* Excessive reactivity

An inability to manage your emotions is toxic to everyone around you. We all know these people – men and women who explode over the smallest hiccup or problem. Yelling at the bank teller for the long line, screaming at your assistant for the power point error he made, or losing it with your child for spilling milk on the floor. If you find that you’re overly reactive, losing it at every turn, you need some outside assistance to help you gain control over your emotions and understand what’s at the root of your emotionality. There’s more to it that appears on the surface. An outside perspective – and a new kind of support – is critical.

* Needing constant validation

Finally, people who constantly strive for validation and self-esteem by obsessing about achieving outward measures of success, are exhausting to be around. Those men and women who get caught up in the need to prove their worth over and over, and constantly want to “win” over their colleagues or peers, are toxic and draining.

Overly-attaching to how things have to look and be, and to achieving certain milestones and accomplishments rather than going with life in a more flexible, easy manner, can wear you out and bring everyone else around you down . There is a bigger picture to your life, and it’s not about what you achieve or fail at today. It’s about the journey, the process, the path - what you’re learning and applying, how you’re helping others, and the growing process you allow yourself to engage in.

Stop stressing over the particular outcomes like, “I need that promotion now!” or “My house has to be bigger and more beautiful than my neighbor’s.” Your desperate need to prove your success and build your self-esteem through outer measures of success is (sadly) apparent to everyone but you, and it’s pushing away the very happiness outcomes you’re longing for.

LIFE LESSONS FROM THE BRAZIL-GERMANY FIFA WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL MATCH

Life Lessons from the Brazil-Germany Semi-Final Match at the FIFA 2014 World Cup:

1. Your Performance Reputation or Track Record is irrelevant. It is not good enough for today.

2. Rehearsals and practice events are helpful but what you actually do on D-Day is what really counts.

3. There is really nothing like an "under-dog" in life. Everyone has a chance to succeed despite the odds.

4. Do not underestimate your opponent.

5. Do not over-rate yourself. Don't believe the hype. There was a top-dog before you who is now referred to as "former...." or "ex-....".

6. You set your own limit. Germany could have scored about 12 goals!

7. Even when you fail, you are not a failure. Thank God. Do like Coach Scolari who held his head high, consoled his players and hugged the German players.

8. In everything, give God thanks. It could have been worse. Do like the Brazilian players who knelt down publicly and worshipped God despite their loss. There is a tomorrow. And you will win ultimately through Christ who leads you in triumph.

Praise God!

THE NIGERIAN MILITARY AND THE RULE OF LAW

Friday (4th of July, 2014) was a very sad day for the Rule of Law in Lagos. Some soldiers ran amok ostensibly to avenge the death of their colleague who was allegedly killed by a bus belonging to LAGBUS. The soldiers harassed innocent citizens, beat up some of them, burnt some buses, caused traffic to be held up for hours on Ikorodu Road and disrupted the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service throughout the day thereby causing the public untold hardship.

The action of the soldiers is totally unjustifiable. As military men, they need not be told to respect constituted civil authority and how to channel their grievances for appropriate action. Sadly, in what smacks of petty politics, the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Musliu Obanikoro, hurriedly issued a statement via his Twitter account denying the culpability of personnel of the Nigeria Army claiming that he had been "fully briefed" about the matter by the Army High Command. The spokesman for the Albati Army Barrack in Ojuelegba, Lagos, where the unruly soldiers are based, was quoted as saying that "area boys" were responsible for the mayhem not soldiers. What investigation was conducted by the Nigeria Army to arrive at such a preposterous conclusion?

Incidents such as this should not be tolerated. Many military personnel seem to believe they are exempted from compliance with the laws of the land. In Lagos, it is common to see military and paramilitary personnel flout the legislation and use the BRT Corridor with impunity. The Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola, once caught an Army Colonel being driven in his official vehicle on the BRT lane at CMS Bus stop, Marina.

The National Assembly should wade into the matter and carry out a thorough investigation of the incident. The soldiers who were involved should be identified and severely punished. The message should be clear: no one is above the law.

God bless Nigeria.

Nigeria di fure!

THE DANGEROUS ISLAMIST GAME PLAN OF EMIR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI

The Dangerous Islamist Game Plan of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the new Emir of Kano:

* Reach out to Boko Haram and open conciliatory talks.

** Broker a ceasefire and secure the safe return of the girls abducted from Chibok.

*** Become an instant International Hero having done what President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could not do or has not done.

**** Stand for election in 2015 as the Presidential Candidate of the Amala/Almajiri "Progressives" Party (APC) having grudgingly allowed himself to be "prevailed upon by millions of patriotic Nigerians to step down as the Emir of Kano so as to save our nation from collapse".

***** As Nigeria's President, implement the Islamisation Agenda which was articulated in the Communique issued at the end of the Islam in Africa Conference organised by the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) held in Abuja in 1989 and which was hosted by former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida: THE ABUJA DECLARATION ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja_Declaration_(1989) )

The Abuja Declarion is the outcome of a conference of the African countries of the OIC in 1989 and launched by a communiqué of the Islam in Africa Organisation (IAO) founded during this conference.

The Islam in Africa Organisation (IAO) is a Nigerian statuted Islamic organisation, an initiative of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Dr. Usman Muhamad Bugaje is the current Secretary-General of the IAO.

Goals and strategies

The organisation was founded on 28 November 1989 in Abuja,[1] Nigeria, with the goal to win the whole of Africa for Islam. The statutes and goals[2][3] are ratified in 1991 and this marks her formal definitive founding. The founding-communiqué is also called the Abuja Declaration.[4] Startingpoint for the conference is the fact that Africa is the only continent with an Islamic majority and therefore Africa should become completely Islamic.[5]
The plan contains a lot of points that are also common for Christian missionary organisations as relief and economic progression.

A battleplan was composed to Islamise Africa with some less innocent points in that decision:[6]
"To ensure only Muslims are elected to all political posts of member nations".
"To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslim)." (the word Christianity is underlined in the declaration)
"To ensure the ultimate replacement of all western forms of legal and judicial systems with the sharia in all member nations before then next "Islam in Africa conference."
"To ensure the appointment of only Muslims into strategic national and international posts of member nations."

The execution of this strategy can be recognised in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia and Sudan. In Nigeria more and more provinces choose for the Sharia leading to heavy protests of Christians, oft resulting in violence and bloodshed to both sides. In Sudan the government chose in 1983 for the Sharia, in 1991 sharpened with death punishment for apostasy from Islam.

Funds: The government of Nigeria has donated 21 billion US-dollar conform an IAO-communiqué [7] as donation to this "Islamic Development Fund".

Organisation

The IAO consists of four main organisations:[8]
the General Shura', the highest authority consisting of 43 members from all over Africa and the Diaspora.
the Executive Comité.
the Secretariat housed at Abuja, (Nigeria).
the Necessary organs to the realisation of the goals.

Countries

The organisation mentions the following countries on its website:

Algeria
Benin
Chad
Egypt
Ethiopia
Eritrea
Kenya
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Mauritania
Marokko
Niger
Nigeria
Sudan
Somalia
South Africa
Tunisia
Zambia

External links

Website of the Islam in Africa Organisation

Notes and references

1. ISLAM IN AFRICA ORGANISATION, Introduced by Dr. Usman Bugaje, IAO Secretary-General On the proceedings of the Islam in Africa Conference, 18 Juni 1994, Kaduna
2. Objectives Islam in Africa Organisation
3. Fundamental goals of The Islamic Political System by Dr. Usman Bugaje (IAO)
4. The Abuja Declaration, East African center for Law and Justice (EACLJ.org)
5. Backgound Islam in Africa Organisation
6. Jihad Erdmute Klein and Robert D. Kaplan, Byblos Amsterdam (2005), 191 pages, ISBN 90-5847-330-9, see page 47
7. The Challenge of Islam by Answering-Islam.com, see par. What is Happening in the Islamic World?
8. Islam in Africa: Proceedings of the Islam in Africa Conference, on June 18, 1994, at Durbar Hotel, Kaduna by Dr. Usman Bugaje


But......

"There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."
Selah!

I have deliberately not mentioned the name Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in any of my social media posts, comments and in my articles since July, 2013, or so......until today. I was under pressure from my friends in the media to comment when SLS was suspended as the CBN Governor some months ago. I had invitations from Chamberlain Usoh and Chimezie Obi-Iwuagwu of Channels TV to come on their live programmes, Sunrise Daily and Business Morning, respectively, to discuss Sanusi's exit but I told them I would not speak on the matter publicly. Similarly, Mike Eboh of Vanguard newspaper, Sam Diala of the Union newspaper and Boason Omofaye of Bloomberg TV Africa wanted interviews with me but I turned them down.

I have finally spoken today because I have a release in my heart that I am under obligation as a Nigerian patriot to disclose the agenda at play which, sadly, even some who should be spiritually minded are totally ignorant of.

For the reader who does not know me personally, let me say the following to give the issue I have raised here some context:

1. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi WAS my personal friend; we met and became friends in August, 2002, after the CBN's Workshop on the Basle 2 Capital Accord. I was one of the Discussants on the paper which Bode Agusto presented on the Role of Rating Agencies in Basle 2 Accord Implementation. Sanusi made a comment during the Questions and Answers Session which impressed me and I went looking for him after the programme to commend him for his excellent contribution.

2. I was a champion of Sanusi's appointment as the CBN Governor in 2009 and was on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily pushing his candidacy the day he was to appear before the Senate for confirmation

3. Sanusi and I are Old Boys of King's College, Lagos (KC).
He left KC in 1977 while I entered in 1978. I was invited by Atedo Peterside to the Dinner he hosted to celebrate Sanusi's appointment as the CBN Governor in June, 2009, I attended with my wife.

4. It is unusual for KCOBs to oppose themselves openly. Like many KCOBs and some ex-staff of United Bank of Africa who are friends with Sanusi, I could have benefitted immensely from Sanusi by way of appointments and/or contracts if I was sucking up to him and kept mute about all I know about him.

5. One particularly bank CEO (who may be reading this...LOL!!) actually told me when I visited him in November, 2012, that "I no go dey give you job again oh". When I asked why, he said: "You dey fight my Governor - SLS". He then started laughing and claimed he was "joking". He has since stopped picking my phone calls and no longer replies my messages. We used to be quite close.

So... I know the consequences of opposing someone who has some "influence" in today's Nigeria.
BUT I SERVE THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS!! Halleluyah!!

6. I cannot be quiet when THE BLOOD OF GIDEON AKALUKA IS CRYING OUT AGAINST SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI FOR BEING ONE OF THOSE WHO INSTIGATED HIS BEHEADING IN KANO IN 1996. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was indicted by the Government of Gen. Sani Abacha and was incarcerated in Sokoto Prison for two (2) years for his role in that sadistic murder. His co-accused did not have that privilege. Gen. Abacha got them summarily executed but spared Sanusi because he is a prince of Kano and tmany northern Emirs and other leaders begged that he be spared.

7. I hereby call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to re-open the Gideon Akaluka case by instituting a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's role in that inglorious and satanic episode.

WE MUST HAVE #JusticeForGideonAkaluka.

Let the campaign, protests, marches, prayers, petitions, vigils begin...until we secure JUSTICE FOR GIDEON AKALUKA. Yes, he was murdered in cold-blood in a barbaric and brutal way at the behest of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi about eighteen (18) years ago; but Gideon Akaluka's widow, children, siblings, other family members, friends and well-wishers deserve justice to get finally get justice and some kind of "compensation" for the irreparable loss of their bread-winner.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR THE TRUTH TO BE UNVEILED AND JUSTICE DULY METED OUT.

Now, let the honest reader judge whether I am serious, truthful, prejudiced etc.

TRUTH IS ETERNAL. JUSTICE IS SACRED.

Nigeria di fure......but only IF we have the courage to avenge the murder of Gideon Akaluka by Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

God bless  Nigeria!