Abdur Raheem Ahmad Sayi, Islamic scholar and Judge of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Kwara State, has called on the Federal Government to devise a technology to regulate access to the internet with a view to checking misguided information, particularly those capable of fuelling security and religious crises in the country.
The cleric who observed that the unfettered access by Nigerians, especially the youth, to the loads of “misinformation” on the cyber space has contributed immensely to the present security challenges in the country, warned that failure by the government to do the needful might spell doom for the unity of Nigeria.
Justice Sayi made this call in his lecture at the 2012 Special Ramadan Iftar programme, organised by the Ogun State government, held at the Arcade Ground of the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
The theme of the programme was “Threats to National Security and Unity: Religion as a Panacea or Problem.”
According to the cleric, internet could be educative, entertaining and informative, but promoters of hate and disunity in the country had used it to spread messages of discord and fake news among Nigerians, hence government must find ways to curb the menace before it is too late.
He noted that the country is atop a keg of gunpowder and if no efforts are made to check the social malaise, things could get out of hand.
According to him, “what Nigeria is currently witnessing in terms of insecurity will be a negligible fraction of chaos that will come.”
The judge urged leaders of Islam and Christianity in the country to desist from preaching about prosperity alone, but inculcate the core values, tenets and teachings of love and unity of mankind, in the minds of their adherents.
He further charged religious leaders to use religion as instrument to foster unity and oneness, rather than to promote discrimination, hate and disharmony.
He also urged media practitioners to continue to play a pivotal role in reversing the trend of insecurity by imbibing and practising responsible journalism, which according to him will go a long way in preserving societal peace and unity of Nigeria.
