Same-Sex Marriage Must Remain Criminalised In Nigeria – Sultan-Led Muslim Community, JNI Tells Tinubu Government

Same-sex marriage has been criminalised in Nigeria and should remain so, Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella group for the Muslim community in the country has said, adding that Nigerians have an established pattern of family life and are well-cultured people.

JNI under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, and its President–General, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, stated this in a communique issued on Monday, at the end of its Annual Central Council Meeting held on Monday 11th December 2023, at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State.

In the 10 points resolution issued at the meeting organised to discuss issues relating to the state of the Muslim Ummah and the nation, as well as charting a way forward for the JNI, the group reminded both the Federal and state governments that in 2013, the eighth Senate kicked against same-sex marriage in Nigeria amid much pressure.

JNI described the recent promotion and activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender (LGBT) in Nigeria as worrisome and a source of concern for every right-thinking person.

Signed by Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar and Local Organising Committee, Aliyu Makama and another, JNI also decried that lack of good leadership and political will in the governance of the country has posed a great threat to the infrastructural, social, and economic development of Nigeria.

The 10 points resolutions partly read: "A thorough and transparent investigation be conducted on the military attack on Tudun-Biri, Kaduna State, where more than 120 innocent Muslims were shelled – who authorised the attack, what intelligence was used, how could the attack be repeated thirty minutes later after the first one? The JNI and other Muslim organisations must be on top of the matter and keep the Ummah informed; while the necessary sanctions against the culprits must be satisfactorily seen to be applied by the Federal Government, just as we reiterate our earlier call for due compensation (Diyyah) to all the deceased families and the government should take-up complete medicals of all the injured victims. We nonetheless call on all Muslims to exercise restraint and patience, as we await the outcome of investigations on the matter;

"That the JNI must lead other Muslim Organisations and Ulama' in reviving ethos of Islam among the youths, as well as inculcating in them the pristine values of the religion via a sustained reorientation of priorities;

"With the reforms in the financial industry and the coming of Islamic Banking, Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqa (charity) should be easier to collect and administer now, as there is, the need for the JNI to convene a National Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqa (Charity) Summit with Islamic bankers, Muslim organisations and Ulama' in charting ways of leveraging on the current trends in the industry;

"The JNI and Muslim leadership must be decisive in ensuring the unity of the Ummah – for example, a strategy must be deployed to eliminate the 'Yan Hakika phenomenon, as these miscreants have been disowned by the Sufi Tariqas they claim to be part of;

"Still on insecurity, a majority of the bandits and insurgents terrorising the Muslim community are themselves professed Muslims – the JNI and the country's Muslim leadership must not shirk their responsibility in advising the security agencies, as well as reaching out to some of the more malleable miscreants to bring an end to this sorry state of affairs, as many non-state actors are filling the vacuum of this role;

"The lopsided nature of the recruitment process into the Federal security agencies detrimental to and biased against otherwise qualified Muslim candidates requires a thorough audit to be undertaken by the JNI and other Islamic organisations, in addition to putting pressure on Muslim National Assembly Members and Muslim Governors to redress the imbalance;

"The Federal and State Governments in Nigeria should note that way back in 2013 erstwhile Senate President, David Mark, in the 8th Senate kicked against same-sex marriage in Nigeria amidst several pressures. We, therefore, call on all government agencies to note that same-sex marriage has been criminalised and remained so because we have an established pattern of family life and we are a well-cultured people;

"The Federal Government of Nigeria is implored to use all diplomatic avenues in providing leeway to intending Nigerian pilgrims through NAHCON, while the Ulama' and all Hajj operation stakeholders in Nigeria are called upon to provide the necessary enlightenment and guidance to the intending 2024 pilgrims;

"Islamic leadership is recognised as the solution to the nation's myriad problems – the JNI must lead other Muslim organisations in being proactive in ensuring that our Traditional and religious leaders are given roles in the Nigerian Constitution, especially in matters of security, education, health, social and economic wellbeing;

"The offer of financial contribution to the leaders of the Ummah, as well as the JNI by some Muslim organisations, is a welcome and happy development – this should be pursued diligently, while the Emirates should also diversify their sources of support other than the governments, as philanthropists abound within and across all Muslim communities."

According to the communique, the meeting Chaired by His Eminence the Sultan, was attended by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris Malagi, the Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, the Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the Niger State Government; their Highnesses, the Etsu Nupe and JNI Vice President-General (VPG), Niger State, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, CFR; the Emir of Hadejia and JNI VPG Jigawa State, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Abubakar Maje, CON;

Others are the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji (Dr.) Najib Hussaini Adamu, CON, the Emir of Muri and JNI VPG Taraba State, Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida, the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Barau Mu'azu II, the Emir of Wase and JNI VPG Plateau State, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo Haruna, the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, CON; Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Attahiru, II, as well as many other Traditional Rulers and/or their representatives, the National Chairman of Izala, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, the representative of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the representative of Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and many other Muslim Scholars and clerics, Members of the Academia and Muslim Organisations from across the country.