PUBLIC OPINION ON KEY ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Dr. Richard Wike, Director, Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Centre, Washington DC presented his findings on 'Public opinion on key issues in Nigeria, South Africa & Kenya'. The presentation was hosted by Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), in Abuja. I am particularly interested in the findings on Nigeria. The research was conducted in 2015...

The following are the key findings:

*Negative economic ratings surge in Nigeria.
*Nigerians are optimistic about the next 12 months.
*Africans in Nigeria/Kenya/South Africa are optimistic about their long term economic future.
*Africans support involvement in the global economic system.
*Most Nigerians say young people should remain in their home country.
*In Nigeria, poverty is the top domestic concern.
*Nigerians see food supply as top priority for the country.
*Lack of 'connections' seen as major obstacle to employment.
*Nigerian government seen as making progress against BH.
*Nigerians optimistic about making progress on key issues - healthcare/education/poverty/equal rights for men & women/terrorism/corruption in government.
*Nigerians say America & China are the examples of model economies in the world.
*Most Nigerians believe ordinary citizens can influence government.
*Nigerians say government is run for the benefit of a few.
*Political participation in Nigeria relatively high - voting/attendance at political rallies.
*There's a high level of political engagement among African publics.
*In Nigeria, more men report that they are politically active.

Critique of the findings:

The euphoria of the result of the 2015 general elections might have led to the 'artificial optimism' about the future of the country. People have now realised that 'fighting corruption' is not equivalent to engendering a bouyant economy. An incumbent President was defeated by the candidate of the opposition Party and the former conceded. This is unprecedented in Nigeria's history...hence the optimism of Nigerians at the time the research was conducted. If the same research is embarked upon now, the scenario may change, because reality has set in.

*Most young people would rather leave Nigeria now if they had the opportunity because of the state of the economy and the very high level of unemployment.
*Support for involvement in the global economy by Nigerians is no longer as total. Nigerians are still interrogating involvement in the EPA and similar Agreements. Nigerians are more weary than ever before about whatever they perceive as 'unequal partnership'.
*In addition to poverty, terrorism and unemployment should be part of the top domestic concerns.
*Nigerians may no longer be that optimistic about making progress on issues - healthcare/education/poverty etc. The budgetary allocation for many of these critical sectors, especially healthcare and education etc, has been on the downward trend with dire consequences for the poor.
*I am not sure most Nigerians believe they can influence government. Maybe through front line NGOs, but as individuals?...
*Is political participation in Nigeria relatively high? Maybe towards and during the 2015 elections when citizens were fed up with the incumbent regime. The level of political participation in Nigeria is generally low. Citizens are apathetic about politics because they are hungry and believe their votes may not count.
*In the follow-up research by the Pew Research Centre, it may be worthwhile to embark on gender dis-aggregation as regards political participation. This would enable the researchers further interrogate the assertion that 'Nigerian men are more likely to report being politically active'.
*The use of technology in Nigeria - in particular, the introduction of the use of the 'card reader' for the first time in the 2015 elections & the use of 'traditional' and 'new' media need to be interrogated in follow-up research. To be sure, the use of the card reader was innovative. Many feel it helps to forestall rigging in elections, but public opinion on the issue has not been ascertained. Similarly, the introduction of the GSM in 2000 seems to have shaped public opinion. What about the influence of Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snap-chat, blogging, etc. How have all these influenced public opinion? 

I hope Dr. Richard Wike & the Pew Research Centre would find the foregoing critique useful in their future research. The website of Pew Research Centre is www.pewresearch.org

Photo below L-R: Dr. Richard Wike, Director, Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Centre, Washington DC & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa
    

CDD TRAINS 80 CLERICS ON DE-RADICALISATION

It is indeed heartwarming that between the 5th and 6th of November, 2016, the Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), trained more than 80 clerics from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the art of de-radicalisation. I am a non-resident Senior Fellow of CDD. To be sure, the manner in which Islamic clerics propagate the message of Islam has been a source of worry vis-a-vis the BH insurgency. Many are of the opinion that some types of preaching could be regarded as inciting. It is not enough to note the pattern followed by such preachers. CDD decided to 'do something' to help the situation.

There has been no formal training by a regionally acknowledged organisation like CDD targeted at clerics on the subject of de-radicalisation of their followers. UNDP Nigeria and the Government of Japan sponsored the workshop.  The photo of the source, 'Countering Violent Extremism Training Manual', from which the themes in this post are derived is shown below. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the themes of the training manual are not necessarily mine.

Some relevant links that informed this post are:

*In Borno, CDD trains 80 clerics on de-radicalisation    http://www.newsflash.com.ng/.../in-borno-cdd-trains-80-clerics...
*200 religious clerics sensitised to neutralise BH    https://www.channelstv.com/2016/11/05/200-religious-clerics...
*Discourse of Violent Extremism (VE)    https://t.co/piE4qUF8Hj    http://t.co/RFw48yEs8p
*Deradicalisation, counter-terrorism & migration in northern Nigeria: Residential training of clerics in the use of counter-radical training material    http://t.co/VU4i2Xf7PX

Five major themes (Modules) were identified in the two-day training/workshop as enunciated in the CDD 'Countering Violent Extremism Training Manual'. The Manual was developed for CDD. Some of the highlights in the Manual are enunciated below:

1) Al-Takfir (Ex-communication)
2) Jihad (Holy War)
3) Acceptance of non-Islamic political authority
4) Peaceful co-existence with non-Muslims
5) Women's status in Islam

*Takfir is derived from the Arabic word, Kufur, which literally means infidelity/unbelief/irreligion/rebuff/rejection/ingratitude...Accusing a Muslim of committing an act of kufur is called takfir. Let there be no compulsion in religion (Quar'an 2:256).

Extremists' understanding of takfir is quite broad, covering so many issues and practices that mainstream Muslims do not associate with kufur at all. In fact most Muslims will not accuse any person of kufur, except in the case of a person who expressly renounces his/her Islamic faith. Even in such a case, there are elaborate procedures to follow before the imposition of any sanctions.

*Jihad: Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who do not fight against you on account of religion and do not send you out of their homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity (Quar'an 60:8)

*Acceptance of non-Islamic political authority: Islam is understood as a complex way of life, covering not only religious beliefs & practices, but also regulating political affairs, social relations, economic activities, cultural identity and norms. Adherents of Islam are considered as a single global community, called the umma, which should be governed by its political institutions and in accordance with the Sharia.

*The status of women in Islam: In general, Islam affirms the humanity of both men and womencreated by the same God for the same purpose. Islam enjoins both men and women on equal footing. The two sexes have the same freedoms and rights before Allah (Quar'an 49:3)

*Peaceful relations with non-Muslims: Islam is understood as a complete way of life, covering not only religious beliefs and practices, but also regulating political affairs, social relations, economic activities, cultural identity and norms. Muslims are considered a single global community, called the umma. The umma should be governed by its political institutions and in accordance with the Sharia.

The training was much more elaborate than I have presented above. There are more details in the CDD Training Manual that informed this post. At the end of the workshop, most of the trainees said they had learnt so much, and would put their newly acquired knowledge to use anytime they preach. It was suggested that the training should be continuous with the aim of ensuring the use of  'moderate' language by preachers, which could eventually translate into the de-radicalisation of their followers.

P.S.

I suggest the reader digests this blog post pari passu an earlier one: 'Towards an effective strategy on counter insurgency in Nigeria'    http://www.dayokusa.blogspot.com.ng/2014/03/towards-effective-strategy-on-counter.html

Related Links

*What will drive the next generation of Salafi-Jihadis?   https://bit.ly/2MZfbdD   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-terrorism-its-solution-actual-fact-ayay-singh/

*Countering BH ideology   nextierspd.com/countering-boko-haram-ideology

*The ideology to uproot the basis for terrorism, that's creating the world-wide basis for war    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/moral-evolution-through-uniting-science-faith-literature-ajay-singh-1c/?

  

15 YEARS OF SHARIA IMPLEMENTATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

On the 31st of October, 2016 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, I was part of the public dissemination of the research on 15 years of Sharia implementation in northern Nigeria. The research was conducted for the Nigeria Stability & Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) by the Development Research & Projects Centre (dRPC), Kano and Nigeria Research Network (NRN).

5 Policy briefs were x-rayed at the meeting:

*The Sharia Courts
*The case of Hisbah
*Zakat & Waqf institutions
*Impact on women
*The role of Ulama

Some of the participants at the meeting are:

*Barr (Mrs) Maryam Uwais, Special Assistant to the President on Social Protection
*Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Programme Manager, NSRP
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Conflict Transformation Expert & Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG)
*Dr. Yahaya Hashim, DRPC
*Prof. Abdul Raufu Mustapha
*Dr. Garba Ahmed
*Dr. Usman Bugaje
*Prof. Mohammed Tabiu

The following are some of the issues around which the discussion was centred:

-It is important to protect non-Muslims in Sharia states.
-Sharia courts should be 'aligned' with Customary courts.
-Islamic personal law vs Sharia law
-Should Islamic criminal law be re-introduced?
-Lawyers should be accommodated in Sharia courts
-Women constitute at least 70% of complainants in Sharia courts
-Sharia courts are viewed as user friendly institutions because they facilitate speedy disposal of cases
-More women should be employed in Sharia courts
-Women should be empowered to bear the cost of litigation
-Judges & staff of Sharia courts need more training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
-The activities of 'Diladelai'-fake court facilitators, should be curbed
-'Silhu', Mediation services should be strengthened in Sharia courts
-Women should be more involved in the distribution of Zakat
-Sharia courts should be better funded
-In each of the Sharia states, no Hisbah organisation is the same as the other. Each one is unique
-Hisbah is to protect and provide social services for the poor
-Most people want Hisbah retained
-The purpose of Zakat is that for everything that belongs to the rich, a portion belongs to the poor. Zakat is a method of re-distributing wealth. There should be transparency in the distribution of Zakat.

On the whole, the following issues were outstanding. There should be further training in ADR for lawyers and judges in Sharia courts. Women should be more involved in the administration of Sharia courts and the distribution of Zakat. At the meeting, I suggested that every five years, a similar research, followed by a dissemination workshop should be held in order to determine how far the recommendations have been implemented...

Related Links

*Over 1m children out of school in Kano   https://guardian.ng/news/over-1M-children-out-of-school-in-kano-unicef/