2017 CONFERENCE ON ISLAM IN NIGERIA

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    FROM MAITATSINE TO BOKO-HARAM AND BEYOND: A REQUISITE TO VET THE PROPOSED HATE SPEECH BILL FOR MUSLIMS’ UNITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY (Download)

    Author(s):
    Uthman Mohammed Mustapha Kannike , almustaphaum@yahoo.com, almustaphaum@gmail.com, 08056664157

    Abstract: Not news again but only a matter of necessity to say that Nigeria lost innumerable lives and properties through the activities cum crisis of Maitatsine between 1980 and 1985. Greater magnitude of loss has continued to be recorded since uprising of Jama’ah Ahl as-Sunnah li ad-Da’wah wa al-Jihad (Boko-Haram) in 2002. In between the two disastrous unrests, there are on record similar ones that shared causes, identity and implications with the duo. They are considered as residual from the spark created by the former. These included Kano crises of 1982, 1991 and 1995. These subsequent Kano crises are attributed to Maitatsine because the bulk of Maitatsine crises took place in Kano. The most disastrous crisis since disappearance of Maitatsine is that of Boko Haram. Beyond Boko Haram still, are evolving ones in different parts of Nigeria which if not curbed may result to fresh catastrophes. It is observed that the destructive contribution made by both blasphemies from non-Muslims and unguarded utterances from the supposed Muslim preachers in the origin of each of the examined insurgences is enormous. This study which is descriptive and adopted contents analysis method found that the Islamic injunctions on best methodology for a Muslim preacher demands that it must be one that ensures achievement of the Da’wah objectives without any detriment to Muslims’ unity and/or National security. It is on this basis that this paper, with Islamic eyes, views the proposed Federal Government Hate speech bill which is claimed to regulate all religious and tribal agitations in the country to enhance peaceful coexistence. It is therefore a part of this paper’s recommendation that Muslim scholars advocate for an introduction of preaching control in Nigeria to eschew such utterances that disunite the Muslims and/or endanger dear lives and properties of Nigerian citizens.