No One Can Impose Sharia Law on Nigeria, Says Buhari

The  All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said nobody can contemplate imposing Sharia or customary laws on Nigerians since the country’s constitution does not permit a state religion.

Buhari, who made the assertion when he met with some northern pastors under the aegis of Northern Christian  Leaders Eagle-Eyes Forum yesterday in Abuja, said contrary to the views of detractors, he is not a religious fanatic of any sort and  would never support religious extremism.

“The Sharia identified in the constitution is almost synonymous with customary law. It is only applicable in matters of personal status such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. This has been the case since the 1979 constitution. Just as no one can make any customary or any other religious law, the law of Nigeria, so Sharia cannot therefore be the law of Nigeria,” he said

The former head of state who tried to dispel people’s notion regarding  his alleged religious bias, insisted that he had never supported extremism of any kind, adding that nowhere in my record of service to this nation has this false toga taken place.

He said though he has been a devout Muslim, he has never belonged to, nor shared the views of any extremist group.

According to Buhari, the role of government is to protect lives and property of citizens and to respect and protect their constitutional rights.