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By Chinenye Anuforo
Human rights advocate and president of the civil society group One Nation One Law, Benson Sunday, has urged the Federal Government to expunge all constitutional Sharia provisions and adopt a unified national legal and security framework, warning that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is being weakened by “contradictions, mixed messages and religious politics.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Sunday said the existence of parallel legal systems fuels division and undermines Nigeria’s ability to confront escalating insecurity. He described constitutional Sharia as incompatible with a modern, secular republic, insisting that “religion belongs in the soul, law belongs to the nation.”
According to him, influential religious and traditional authorities including the Sultan of Sokoto must demonstrate firm moral clarity at a time of mounting national crisis.
“With great authority comes great responsibility. When insecurity rages, no leader, religious or traditional, can afford ambiguity,” he said.
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Sunday also criticised religious groups that previously opposed Nigeria’s proposed security partnership with the State of Israel, a collaboration initiated by then–Deputy Foreign Minister Bianca Ojukwu before the United States intervened. He described the shelved arrangement as a “bold, forward-looking diplomatic step” that could have strengthened Nigeria’s intelligence, counterterrorism and security infrastructure.
“A nation globally respected for its experience in intelligence, counterterror operations, hostage rescue and advanced security technology was ready to support us,” he said. “But public pushback from clerics and Islamic groups delayed momentum and weakened political courage. Those who fought against meaningful reforms yesterday cannot pretend to lead the fight against insecurity today.”
Calling for decisive leadership, Sunday urged President Bola Tinubu to publish the full list of terror financiers and enablers, revive stalled security cooperation with Israel, deepen collaboration with the United States and other allies, and empower the country’s top security leaders — including General Christopher Musa and Deputy Minister Bianca Ojukwu — to build “West Africa’s strongest anti-terror network.”
“No president is endangered by telling the truth,” Sunday stated. “The nation will defend any leader who chooses transparency over silence.”
He further warned that national unity cannot be achieved under a divided legal structure and cautioned leaders and institutions against actions that weaken cohesion or obstruct reform.
“From Zamfara to Benue, Borno to Kaduna, the blood of innocent Nigerians cries not for charity, but for justice,” he said. “A nation divided by law cannot unite against terror.”
Sunday called on Nigerians to reject extremism, secrecy and all forms of divided governance in the ongoing battle against insecurity.
