OIC backs FG on counter-insurgency

The  Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Eyad Ameen  Madani, has described members of Boko Haram as outlaws.
Madani led a delegation to a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa yesterday to listen to his vision about the 57-member organisation and to express their solidarity with Nigeria in the face of the terrorist attacks.
Fielding questions from ‎State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the OIC chief scribe described the activities of the sect as criminal, adding that their actions had nothing to do with Islam as erroneously believed by many.
‎Madani said: “We are honoured to meet Mr. President, and we are here primarily to listen to the president, his vision about the OIC, the priorities of the OIC in the years to come.
“We are also here to express our solidarity with Nigeria in facing up to this terrorist organisation and to condemn the terrorist acts they have been committing, and to show our condolences to the Nigerian people, to the families of those who were affected.
“The OIC has issued statements that are very clear, that these people are outlaws, what they do is criminal act; it has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, Islamic teachings, the religion of Islam, the history, the culture, the civilisation of Islam and we should identify them for what they are, as a terrorist group.
“So, we listened to the president and we offered what the OIC could do in terms of expressing its support, its willingness to be actively involved in facing up to this terrorist group.”
Madani said the organisation could be involved in many ways because the crisis was multi-dimensional. He said if Nigerian government allowed it, the organisation would convene an inter-faith dialogue because of its belief that there were a lot to be said about the veracity of the sect’s claims.
He said the dialogue would also show many aspects of similarities between not only Christians and Muslims but between all faiths and convictions.
Madani further stated that the OIC would be available through its different organs to help alleviate the social and economic conditions in any area where the sect members operate.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, said the organisation had expressed its support and understanding for the country in its hour of challenge.
He said: “The fact that the OIC has expressed its position of support and understanding at this hour of our challenges, goes to show that OIC is playing its role to support any of its member-states that has any problem, either socially, economically, religiously or otherwise.
“So, this is something that should be a message to every Nigerian that OIC is a body that is willing and able to come to the aid of its member states as explained by the secretary general.”