Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, wants the building of national consensus to resolve the grey areas in the proposed Islamic non-interest banking.
In a statement on the heels of his 78th birthday in Abuja, last Thursday, Anenih expressed worries that the controversial Islamic banking initiative has the potential to further polarize the country along religious fault lines.
He believed the proposal would appear to be a welcome addition to innovative efforts to bring otherwise marginalized populace into the mainstream of economic activity, but pointed out that religious coloration, which has become the downside of the proposal, should be carefully managed.
“I believe that, as Nigerians, we should welcome every opportunity to broaden the base of popular participation in economic activities. Poverty has persisted in the country for so long because the economic space has excluded many disadvantaged groups like the Niger Delta,” the former PDP BoT chairman stated.
He went on: “As an elder, and one who has been involved in the politics of this nation for over 30 years, I am concerned that the current controversy over the introduction of Islamic banking to Nigeria has the potential to further polarize the country along religious lines.
“This concern has been particularly heightened by the pronouncements made in good faith by both the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims and Sultan of Sokoto, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, which could be misunderstood.
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Islamic banking: Anenih seeks consensus building
Islamic banking: Anenih seeks consensus building
NigerianEye
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Sunday, August 07, 2011
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