“On NASFAT, Vice President Sambo expressed appreciation for the performance of the organisation in the last 17 years in enlightening the Muslim community as regards Islamic tenets” — given the increasingly assertive actions of Boko Haram, however, it appears that NASFAT has not successfully enlightened significant segments of the Muslim community as regards Islamic tenets. It is striking: we are constantly told that acts of violence and terror that Muslim groups commit in the name of Islam actually have nothing to do with Islam, which really teaches peace. Yet no Muslim group in the West devotes any time or attention at all to “enlightening the Muslim community as regards Islamic tenets” and trying to make sure that no Muslims misunderstand Islam. And in Nigeria, if NASFAT has really been trying to do this, it has singularly failed.
“Wrong Islamic teachings worry Sambo,” by Leon Usigbe in the Sunday Tribune, May 6:
VICE President Namadi Sambo has expressed concern over the wrong teaching of the tenets of Islam by certain groups as he observed that the religion is a religion of peace.
Making the assertion while receiving the national executive of Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society (NASFAT) on a courtesy call in his Aguda House residence Abuja at the weekend, the vice president called on adherents of all religions to embrace peaceful coexistence.
A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, Umar Sani, quoted Vice President Sambo as saying that “Islam is a religion of peace and teaches peace, but certain groups and associations use the teachings wrongly.”
He, therefore, implored religions” adherents to live in peace with their neighbours, while giving assurance on the efforts of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver on its promises, including credible elections….
On NASFAT, Vice President Sambo expressed appreciation for the performance of the organisation in the last 17 years in enlightening the Muslim community as regards Islamic tenets.
He promised the organisation the necessary support for the progress and development of the nation.
Speaking earlier, the National President of NASFAT, Mallam Sherriff Yusuf, explained that the purpose of their visit was to show solidarity for the administration of Jonathan and Sambo as a result of the “good works” they were doing.
However, he lamented the security challenges facing the nation and expressed the willingness of their organisation to enlighten Nigerians on Islam, its tenets and its abhorrence of violence.