ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA - The Permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of
Religion and Propaganda (FM-RAP), Alhaji Adegbile, said yesterday in Abeokuta,
Ogun state that Southern States are beginning to exercise their constitutional
right by implementing the sharia legal system. Alhaji Adegbile stated
this at the formal closing down of a popular beer parlour in the commercial
centre of the ancient city. Ogun state is one of the 15 southern states
yet to introduce sharia system.
The successful introduction of sharia in the southern states of Oyo and
Lagos last week, he said, was made possible by a high powered body, Committee
For Islamisation of the South (COFIS) which he commissioned early last
year to devise a workable formula for its implementation. He said however,
the success of the committee was largely due to the enthusiasm and support
of the Muslim population in those states.
Alhaji Adegbile accused the non-Muslims in the south, which make up 90%
of the population of prejudice against the introduction of sharia, noting
that southern Muslims should be allowed to exercise their freedom of religion.
He queried: "Why should Northern Muslims be allowed to amputate
or stone to death their thieves, beer/whisky drinkers and fornicators
and their southern counterparts are denied their religious right to do
the same?”
He urged the remaining Southern states, Ogun state included to exercise
their constitutional right by introducing sharia system so that they too
can become as tolerant and progressive as the other sharia-practising
states.
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