By Ibrahim Usman
Recently, CCN World blog hosted an article by Dawit Giorgis, who was described as a visiting fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in which he tries to implicate the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and its leadership, in the recent alleged discovery of weapons in Kano, Nigeria.
The write-up appeared a week after a Nigerian magazine, Tell, published similar spurious speculation. Surprisingly, the views expressed by the writer (Dawit Giorgis) is said to be his own.
For the writer to plagiarized views expressed by Tell magazine, and for CNN World to host it on its blog, and described the views expressed as the writer’s, connotes that it is a global conspiracy against the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and its revered Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqub Zakzaky (H). We are not unaware of the global agenda in the guise of war on terror that is taking shape in Nigeria, being spearheaded by U.S. and Israel; we are not also unaware of the convert operations to curtail the influence of Iran in its call for social justice around the world. It is no more secret that, Nigeria’s security system is infested with Israeli elements, who are controlling it. No wonder, any contrary view to that of US and Israeli must be suppressed at all cost.
The story on the alleged discovery of weapons at the compound of a Lebanese in Kano, which the security operative was quick to link to Hezbollah, was a smokescreen, part of the grand plot to go for the jugular of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, who has strong admiration for Iran and Hezbollah. It is however worth to note that, the ideals being propagated by Iran and Hezbolla for social justice and eradication of global arrogance and servitude is admired by individual, groups and countries of the world, Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. Admiration and moral support for Iran and Hezbollah is global and not a sin, just as how US and Israel support, and even arm terrorist groups in Syria and around the world.
The writer unwittingly tried to associate the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Shiekh Zakzaky (H) with violence with no clear cut basis and evidence. Hear him: “The IMN has on several accounts accepted assistance from Terrorist organisations like Hezbollah which gives an idea what the Muslim group might be having up its sleeves”. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a popular movement that is gaining wide acceptance from Nigerians in view of its all-embracing peaceful stand and selfless services to the community. Despite the fact that its members have suffered, and are still suffering suppression and oppression, at no point in its 35 years of existence had the Movement has resorted to violence, or picked up weapons against any individual or institution. Leader of the Movement, Sheikh Zakzaky (H) has repeatedly emphasized in his speeches, “Sacks full of guns and ammunitions are as useless to us, as sacks full of feathers”. The peaceful conduct of the Islamic Movement had endeared Muslims and Christians of Nigeria to it, to the extent that Christians attend activities of the Movement in solidarity, and inter-faith groups constantly pay homage to Sheikh Zakzaky (H) out of respect and honour. This is contrary to the insinuation of the writer that Sheikh Zakzaky (H)’s speeches are anti-Christians.
The crux of the matter is, the global arrogance, US and its ally, are apprehensive of the global awakening against world domination and are hell bent to suppress all known and perceived proponents of this popular ideal. Iran and Hezbollah are at the forefront, championing the cause. Consequently, their admirers will not be left one. This is not the first time, such spurious speculation was made. Sometime in 2008, World Defence Review posted on its website a picture of Sheikh Zakzaky (H) addressing a large Muslim audience to commemorate the Ashura and otherpictures depicting public activities of the group and made the following comment: “…that these pictures were shot in Nigeria is the fact that first; there is indeed a large Shiite minority in Nigeria with whom Hezbollah would find a natural ally…”
Having made the necessary foundation, the close of the write-up clearly made the writer’s insidious intent manifest. He indirectly calls for brutal action against the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and its Leadership before it is too late. “And although the group has yet to launch an attack, it is surely not unreasonable to expect an attempt at some point… Another potential terror threat is facing Nigeria, yet backed by over 1 million Shiites muslims, will Nigeria be able to face Islam and squash the threat or will the opposition keep using the anti-north propaganda to allow the threat grow stronger?”
In as much as we are tempted to say Dawit Giorgis plagiarized this planned plot started by Tell magazine, and the CNN World stating that it is an individual’s viewpoint, the situation on ground has manifested a clandestine agenda to assassinate Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and crush the Islamic Movement under various guise and smokescreen operations. The current offensive against the so-called “Boko Haram” in Nigeria is nothing short of this. Presently, some selected members of the Movement were whisked by security operatives to unknown detention centers; others are targeted for assassination, while in the past reporters of its media outfits were illegally detained. Now that MOSSAD is controlling the Nigerian security system, there is so much pressure on the Nigerian government which has a convenient ally, to crush the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. This is an ill wind, which will blow nobody any good.