A renowned International Islamic scholar and educationist, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, has stated that lack of religious knowledge brought about the Boko Haram menace in the country.
Lemu, who is a member of the National Security, Peace and Reconciliation Committee instituted by federal government on Boko Haram, said authentic teaching of Islam had eroded the nation.
Lemu spoke in Minna yesterday when he paid a thank you visit to the Niger state governor for the support given him when he got prestigious scholarly King Faisal Award in Saudi Arabia last week.
“Let us teach authentic teaching of Islam not because of money. Nigerian youths are being misdirected and brainwashed by some clerics to satisfy their greed for money.”
In his remarks, Niger state Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, agreed with the Sheikh and blamed the insurgency in parts of the country on lack of education on the demands of the two major religions practised in the country.
He chided clerics for misinforming their young followers and particularly throwing the North Eastern parts of the country into crisis resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and property worth billions of naira.
He said some clerics were in the habit of using their pulpits to castigate governments, prominent Nigerians and other religions all in a bid to attract undue attention or for pecuniary benefits which he said had contributed to heightening of tension in the country.
“We will continue to assist people to build churches and mosques; we will continue to fund pilgrimages to the Holy Land, which is what we have taken oath to do and it is the only way to continue to guarantee peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the state.”
