By Evelyn Okakwu
Terrorist activities in Nigeria have been attributed to the effect of negative ideology, which can only be redressed through drastic ideological re-orientation.
This was disclosed at the end of the third session of a Christian and Muslim interactive conference organised yesterday by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Abuja, yesterday.
Speaking to newsman, the CAN President, Pastr Ayo Oritsejafor said: “It was agreed today that the Boko Haram has been as a result of a negative ideology, which is a vital point”.
He, therefore, noted that if the problem resulted from an ideology, it could not be addressed merely by the use of arms.
“The role of the military is very important; but you will not solve this problem completely by the bullet. You will have to create an avenue for a superior argument in the area of ideology”.
Regarding the stake holders in the society that should facilitate the change in ideology, the CAN president said: “Let me put it this way; the people who can engage this terrorists in an ideological conversion are the Muslim clerics. It is only the Muslim Ideology that can counteract this ideology”, he stated.
Also speaking to journalists, Chairman of the Islamic resource center and a key paper presenter at the programme, Professor Mohammed Al ‘Amin, agreed with the stand of the CAN president.
“I perfectly agree that the Boko haram is an ideological problem. Among Muslim scholars, there were some that started the process of ideological change.
“We have agreed at this conference that there is the need for urgent steps to be taken to inwardly among Muslims Identify these elements, expose them to the right teachings of Islam, particularly the Qur’an and the Hadith and if they are defiant, to report them to the appropriate authorities”.
He however noted that the Boko haram does not stem from a plan of Muslims to destroy Christian; nor that of the Government to destabilise the North. “The activities of the Boko Haram in recent times have proven that it is not a plan of Muslims to destroy Christians, nor is it a plan by the Federal Government to unleash mayhem on Northerners.”
“It is clearly a disease by a few Nigerians to inflict pain on both Muslims and Christians”, he stated.
