Islamic Banking, Governance By Ambush – Catholic Bishops

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osogbo and Ilorin have faulted CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on Islamic banking, describing his pronouncements as “governance by ambush”.

They also called for extensive debate on the proposed free-interest rate banking.

The position of the clerics was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day meeting held at Saint Augustine, Regional Pastoral Institute at Ede in Osun State on Saturday.

The communique signed by the President and Secretary, Rev Alaba Job and Bishop Felix Ajakaye, respectively, wasmade available to newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday.

The clerics stated that “the manner of presentation of the proposed Islamic banking with such religious implications at a time like this in Nigeria is faulty and tantamount to governance by ambush.

“ Nigerians should have been allowed to discuss such an important and sensitive issue before the CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido, would make a pronouncement on it, which sounded much like a law.

“We ask the Federal Government to facilitate vigorous and nationwide discussion on the issue for better understanding and resolution of the explosive matter,’’ the communique stated.

On activities of the BokoHaram Islamic sect, the communique said that government’s approach to the issue had been decisive in some ways but inadequate in others, and called for the strengthening of rule of law in the country.

They stated that Nigerians would benefit more from strengthening of the rule of law.

They sympathised with families of those who died and lost their property in the violence resulting from the activities of perpetrated of the sect, and urged the Federal Government to pursue vigorously programmes that would promote a new democratic culture of discipline, fair play, transparency and accountability.

They also enjoined the election petitions tribunals sitting across the nation to dispense justice speedily on all election cases pending before them, noting that the last general elections in the country had produced a new era for democracy in Nigeria.