Nigeria's constitution permits the application of Sharia in domestic matters such as marriage, inheritance, and adoption, but not in criminal law. Islamic penal law permits flogging, amputation, and beheading for some crimes. Obasanjo did not intervene in the Sharia controversy until the February riot in Kaduna in which hundreds of people were killed and many churches, mosques, homes, and shops were destroyed. Northern governors have twice agreed to halt implementation of Sharia, most recently last week. Stressing the need for Christians to be involved in politics, Onaiyekan noted that theocratic political ideology is not a monopoly of Islam.
Examples are Britain, Italy, and Spain.
We have to constantly enlighten our people about this, so that they will know that if we do not insist today on a Christian state in Nigeria, it is not because we have no historical precedents, nor would such a call be contrary to our Christian faith. The chairman of the CSM Steering Committee, Solomon Asemota, a lawyer, said that while politicians in the West listen and act more often according to the wishes of the people, Nigerian politicians act based on selfish interests. Used with permission.