Israel-Hamas War: UniAbuja Professor Speaks On If Nigeria’s Stance Can Affect Its Membership Of Islamic Organization

Amid the ongoing conflict between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas militants in Palestine, a Nigerian university professor has shed light on why Nigeria’s government’s decision not to outrightly condemn Israel will not affect its membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has taken a critical position against the Jewish state.

Professor Ghali Shereef, Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Abuja, told THE WHISTLER that as a sovereign nation, Nigeria has the right to make its own decisions regardless of its affiliations.

He stated, “The position of Nigeria on the Israeli-Palestine conflict neither supported one side nor condemned the Israeli aggression, even though the principles and the name of the OIC are well-defined. A member must not declare support for either of the two conflicting parties. A state has the right to stand aloof, abstain, condemn, or not condemn.”

The OIC, representing 57 member states, including Nigeria, serves as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Member states benefit from OIC’s initiatives, such as the promotion of trade exchanges, human resources development, and assistance to Muslim minorities and communities to enhance their religious, social, and cultural standards.

Following Hamas’s infiltration into Southern Israel in October, resulting in thousands of casualties, the Nigerian government called for a ceasefire as the situation escalated into a full-blown conflict.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar, issued a statement on October 8, stating, “The Federal Government of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday, 7th October 2023, and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire.”

In contrast, the OIC “strongly condemned the horrific massacre perpetrated by the Israeli occupation” against Gaza, a Palestinian enclave.

Professor Shereef, in his chat with THE WHISTLER, further noted that the Israel-Palestine conflict is fundamentally a political rather than religious dispute, stemming from the occupation and annexation of Palestinian land.

“The Nigerian government has been in support of the Palestinian course and for the liberation of Palestine and for the two-state solution – Israel to exist on one side and Palestine also exist as an independent state on the other side.

“This has been the position of Nigeria and the condemnation or no condemnation is something else that by extension will not affect Nigeria’s membership in the organization of Islamic countries,” Shereef said.