The protesters burnt American flags and an effigy of President Barack Obama.
As thousands of Shiite Muslims marched across the streets of Zaria, Kaduna State, to protest an anti-Islamic video made by an Israeli-American, their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, condemned President Goodluck Jonathan and other Nigerian leaders saying they are worse than “dogs.”
As exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, the group made good its threat to embark on the protest despite police warnings; burning American flags and an effigy of American President, Barack Obama.
Vituperations were also poured on Nigerian leaders by the Shiite leader and other protesters during the rally that began at a mosque near the Emir of Zazzau’s palace and terminated at the Zaria Polo Club.
“Even dogs are better than them. Because dogs are loyal to their masters, but Nigerian leaders serve the interests of America to the detriment of the Nigerian people,” Mr. El-Zakzaky told the thousands of protesters.
The Shiite leader said the Nigerian leaders failed to implement people oriented policies because of dictates from the U.S.
“America has stopped them from entering into people oriented project of housing, road and electricity with China and Iran.” the cleric said.
Mr. El-Zakzaky, who leads the 10 million strong Shiite Muslim population in Nigeria, condemned the United States for what he perceived as its role in furthering the anti-Islam movie against the sanctity of Islam.
“The placing of a video clip on the internet that intrudes into the sanctity and personality of the Prophet of Islam was deliberate,” he said.
He claimed that even the September 11, 2001 attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, was perpetrated by America in order to put Islam and Muslims in a bad light.
“America and her cohorts are experimenting the Muslim commitment to Islam as it is not unconnected to bombing of the twin towers which they perpetrated and accused the Muslims of it,” he said.
The protest by the Shiites was held in blatant defiance of police orders.
In the wake of protests across Islamic nations over the controversial movie, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, warned prospective protesters to “stay off the streets of Nigeria” because the nation’s “security agencies will bring to bear the full weight of the law on all law breakers”.
The protesters not only went ahead with the protest, they warned that the country was yet to see the end of it.
“This is just the beginning, as more will be coming,” Mr. El-Zakzaky said.
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