The highest decision making body for Muslims in the
country, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs (NSCIA), yesterday condemned the Federal
Government for refusing to vote in favour of
independence for Palestinian State.
It would be recalled that the United Nations Security
Council on Tuesday rejected a Palestinian resolution
calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West
Bank and East Jerusalem and the establishment of a
Palestinian State by late 2017.
The resolution also called for negotiations to be based
on territorial lines that existed before Israel captured
the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in
the 1967 Middle East war. It also called for a peace
deal within 12 months.
The United States vetoed the resolution, which
needed nine votes in favour and no vetoes from the
council’s five permanent members.
The European and African camps were split in the
vote. France and Luxembourg voted in favour of the
resolution. Britain and Lithuania abstained while among
the Africans, Chad voted yes, but Rwanda and Nigeria
abstained.
However, Nigeria has come under heavy criticism
especially since it is a member of the Organization of
Islamic Countries (OIC) and has always supported
independence for Palestinian State as part of its foreign
policy.
Reacting to the development yesterday in Ilorin, the
Kwara State capital, NSCIA Secretary General, Prof.
Ishaq Oloyede, said: “Whatever must have influenced
the position of the Federal Government, it is
condemnable by all lovers of peace and liberation all
over the world.
“And we believe that Nigeria needs not degenerate
further than this because if we cannot manage our
domestic issues, it is clear that in foreign affairs we are
almost betraying the heroes of this nation.
“We are very sad about this and we feel Nigerians
should know that the NSCIA is opposed to this and we
believe that those who are at the helm of affairs of our
foreign policy will have to explain to the Nigerian people
what they should betray them”.
He added: “The NSCIA is very sad about this
development and we feel that the Federal Government
has betrayed the people of Nigeria and has created a
very serious problem for our foreign policy.
“We believe that what Nigeria has just done is not only
a somersault in terms of foreign policy of Nigeria it is
also a slap on those who are lovers of freedom all over
the world and one cannot explain why this ought to be
so except that we believe the Nigerian government is
carrying its divisive domestic policies to foreign policy
of the country and this is very sad.
“The main thrust of our opposition is just to call
attention of the people of Nigeria to the very sad
situation in which we have been plunged into by the
federal government. You all know the historic position
of Nigeria in terms of fighting for freedom and liberation
all over the world.
“You know Nigeria has always been on the side of
justice and liberation from South Africa etc. Nigeria’s
position has always been very firm on the part of
liberation and freedom of the people.
“We were therefore surprised and amazed by the turn of
events at the Security Council where nine votes were
required for endorsement of freedom for the people of
Palestine only for Nigeria, having played a mischievous
role of expressing its well position about liberation
turning round immediately after communication with
some so-called leadership of the foreign affairs
managers to abstain from voting for this historic
resolution of the 66 years old crisis.
“Of course, if countries like Britain and USA are
opposing it, we can understand; why should Nigeria be
the one to abstain from such a progressive step and
this is why the NSCIA is very unhappy about the
situation and we believe all lovers of freedom should
condemn the Federal Government for what it has just
done. It is a step against freedom and what Nigeria has
always stood for”.
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