Islamic Revolution Influenced Nigerian People, Islamic Movement: Professor

TEHRAN (IQNA) – A Nigerian professor says Iran’s Islamic Revolution has had strong effects on the Nigerian people and also on the establishment of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

Professor Isah Hassan Mshelgaru of Zaria’s Ahmadu Bello University made the remarks in an interview with IQNA on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

“The Revolution came to being and institutionalized both in physical and spiritual spaces in the hearts and minds of people at its base in Iran before spreading out in form of domino effects to reach elsewhere across the world,” he said.

Pointing to the impacts of the Revolution in other countries, Mshelgaru said: “Wherever the revolution travels, it goes along with a message that put together indelible impact. The manifestations of the impact in Nigeria have mainly been related to the development of religion-identity, self-identity, and awakening.”

These factors, he maintained, have “given Nigerians strength and determination” and will lead to “setting the people free”.

“Obviously, a significant segment of the Nigerian society has been influenced by the Islamic Revolution of Iran, resulting in changes in people’s mindset regarding religion, justice, spirituality and rationality advancement,” he said, adding, “Today in Nigeria, like elsewhere, the revolutionarily wakeful, Muslims and Christians and even the traditionalists live together in peace and are more tolerant and united even in the midst of the peak of enemies’ propaganda.”

“People’s thoughts converge on rational demands and are collectively engaged in seeking justice in manners different from the hypocritical western styles. As of now, the awareness is increasing and more and more people are reviewing their stances in respect to justice and oppression which always inch them closer to the revolutionary movement,” stressed the academic.

Referring to the impact of the Islamic Revolution on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, he noted that although the presence of the Iranian people and government is not felt in Nigeria, the Revolution has “tremendously” influenced the formation of the Nigerian movement.

Describing the movement as “the largest multi-cultural, multi-religions and multi-ethnic unified society which strictly adheres to the principle of the revolution,” he said that members of this society observe activities and rituals that are associated with the Revolution.