Contrary to public opinion, Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic countries’ coalition against terror being put together by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with giving the country an Islamic identity, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that Nigeria has joined the Islamic coalition against terrorism put together by Saudi Arabia.
He made the disclosure during an interview broadcast at the weekend on international satellite news channel, Aljareeza.
However, speaking with State House correspondents Monday in Abuja, the minister blamed the media for not being “responsible” enough in the presentation of their reports.
The minister said rather than dwell on the religious perspective, the media ought to be more interested in the objectives of the coalition.
Onyeama observed that terrorism is a global problem and Nigeria is ready to support any move to deal with it.
He explained that the Islamic countries are uncomfortable with the perception that terrorism has an Islamic connotation and consequently wanted to show that this was not the case.
The minister noted that the coalition is keen to demonstrate that terrorists were not speaking for Islam as there was nothing in Islamic teaching that encourages terrorism.
He said, ”What I say first of all is that you guys in the media have to be more responsible in the way you present news. First and foremost, get your facts right.
“It has nothing to do with religion as far as Nigeria is concerned. We have to look at what the objective is. We face terror challenges and its a global phenomenon.
“Unfortunately, the problem we have today is that some of the terrorists groups are claiming some of the things they are doing is in the name of a particular religion and it is clear to everybody that this is not the case which is obviously a concern to people of Islamic faith and Islamic countries that their religion should be so abused.
“So, there is naturally a tendency to show that this has nothing to do with Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Islamic countries, Islamic people want to be seen as being in the forefront of the battle against these terrorists to show also that it has absolutely nothing to do with religion.
“That’s what this is all about. So, we are supporting every move to achieve this, to disabuse people’s minds that some of these terrorists are speaking in the name of Islam or are Islamic or that there’s anything about Islamic teaching that somehow condones these barbaric actions.
“It’s something we should all get together and we should all support whoever is working towards it. And that’s what this coalition is for, to show too that we are a Muslim country, we are Muslims and these people do not speak for islam, have nothing to do with islam.
“Most of the victims of these people are Muslims if you look at it. So, that’s what it is.
“It has nothing to do with Nigeria, Christianity, Islam. The media should really get the main message across.”
-Leadership
