NSCIA Lampoons FG For Abstaining From UNSC Resolution On Palestine

PROF. ISHAQ OLOYEDE

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”.