To solve the Shi’a issue in Nigeria, there is a need for frank discussion between the govt & IMN leadership on the evolution of the sect after 1979 Iranian Revolution, Saudi Reaction after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan & Iran/Iraq war in the 1980s.
Here's why.
Thread.
Here's why.
Thread.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1922, some series of wars ensued, and Saudi Arabia became a sovereign state in 1930. This gave full control of the custodianship of the two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina to the hands of King Abdulaziz Al Saud Family. Sunni Muslims.
The Shia and the Sunni had a long history of the political rivalry since the peaceful demise of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the seventh century. The restoration of the Holy Mosques to the control of conservative Sunni Al Saud Family ignited the old Shia/Sunni rivalry.
On Feb. 14, 1945, President Roosevelt of U.S met with the Saudi King Al Saud aboard USS Quincy to discuss series of agreement between to two leaders: Saudi guarantee supply of oil in exchange for American security for the Kingdom. Faced with many threats, the King agreed.
At the height of the Cold war in 1978-79, series of the event between the Soviet Union, the U.S and it's allied let to the loss of the Shah administration in favor of Iranian Revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, who immediately converted the country to the Islamic Republic.
The success of the Iranian Revolution shook the whole world, especially the Saud Leaders who are very much aware of the potential threat of a Shia controlled state within the neighborhood of the Sunni dominated Gulf Countries. The Saudi King then, Khalid congratulated Iranians.
The ancient rivalry was ignited & the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah began to openly question the legitimacy of the Kingdom's leadership, calling Monarchy as Unislamic. That clearly demonstrated to Saudi, Iranian ambition to take over the two Holy Mosque from Al Saud Family.
Iranian Revolution was actively supported by the Soviet Union.
On Dec. 25, 1979, months after the Iranian Revolution, The Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan, a wholly Muslim country, conservative & a Staunch Ally of Saudi Arabia. The U.S solicited the support of Saudi govt in repelling the Soviet away from their fellow Muslimland. They obliged
The Saudis agreed to rally the entire Muslim countries in the world to repel the incursion of the soviet in Afghanistan in exchange for America to persuade its friend, Saddam Hussein to Invade Iran. Saddam, seeing the value of Oil rich Khuzestan Province as a price, also agreed.
While negotiation was going on between Saddam and the U.S, Saudi called for Islamic Conference in January 1980 in which 34 countries adopted a resolution calling for Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan or risk response. The Soviet continued their aggression against Afghanistan.
The CIA, in collaboration with Pakistani Intelligence ISI & China, played a significant role in training the Mujahideen on guerrilla warfare against the Soviet Union forces. By March 1980, the Mujahideen forces began an offensive against the Soviet Union in war the lasted 9 years
After getting persuaded by the U.S of the price to gain in Khuzestan Province with attacking Iran which will also diminish much celebrated Iranian success in the Revolution that directly threatens the rise of his Baath party in Iraq, Saddam brutally invaded Iran in September 1980
The successful ability of the Saudi leaders to rally Muslim countries all over the world to fight for a single cause in Afghanistan threatens Iran. Iranian leaders also began to look for an international network of its own allied Muslim countries to counter Saudi's influence.
From then till now, both countries struggle for the control of Muslim countries outside its borders. Saudi exports its own version of ideology side by side with Iran's in an apparent struggle to gain more influence should the need arises for self-preservation, like Afghanistan.
As its effective winning strategy during the cold war, The U.S, seeing that Saudi ideology is a great counter to the Soviet incursion within the Muslim land, encouraged Saudi with support & intelligence. This helps make Muslim countries, allied to Saudi to repel Soviet alliance.
It is China, & Saudi Arabia, & the West led by the U.S, that succeeded in bringing the cold war to a successful end: The collapse of the Warsaw Pact, fall of the Berlin wall. Saudi benefit from the increased flow of oil, China by access to market while the U.S sold more weapons.
That was the rivalry the Nigerian State inherited. The Islamic Movement of Nigeria's founder was greatly influenced by the Iranian Revolution. The Founder, Ibrahim Zakzaky was in Iran and brought with him the Shia Islam. Having millions of followers in Nigeria today.
I, therefore, believe in my humble opinion, that solving this issue by force or through the courts might not yield the desired result for peace & stability we desire. There is a need for a very frank discussion with the IMN leadership, in the most open, rational & pragmatic way.
Members of IMN movement are Nigerians, killing a fellow Nigerian over an ideology should be the last-no-option scenario for every government. But discussion of the root causes of the evolutions & the need for peace over ideology should be the centerpiece discourse on this issue
May God continue to Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Peace, Unity, Reconciliation and Prosperity for its people and its government.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
