Nuclear Truths and Selective Justice: The Treaty and the West’s Dance With ‘Hypocrity’ (1), by Hassan Gimba

The Arbiter

It is a new” word, huh? Hypocrity. Well, it is not a word in usage. But come, you must have seen its closeness to hypocrisy. OK, hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have virtues, beliefs, or feelings that one does not possess, especially when those pretended beliefs contradict one’s actions. Now, interchange it with hypocrity. You get it.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 1957, is an autonomous international organisation within the United Nations system. It carries out programmes to maximise the contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.

Related to this is the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT came into force in 1970 as an international agreement aiming to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. It has about 191 states currently adhering to its statutes.

Although the IAEA is not a party to the NPT, it operates under the NPT, fulfilling specific roles as the international safeguards inspectorate and as a multilateral channel for the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology applications. Article III administers international safeguards to verify that the non-nuclear-weapon states party to the NPT fulfil the non-proliferation commitment they have made “to prevent diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

Article IV says the agency facilitates and provides a channel for endeavours aimed at “the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the territories of non-nuclear-weapon states party to the Treaty, with due consideration for the needs of the developing areas of the world.”

Any nation that signs the NPT is expected to behave “responsibly” by being open to the world about its nuclear programmes through the IAEA. Refusal to do so can be subject to various interpretations. Not guided by any international obligation, being answerable to none could be an indicator that a nation has an intention of going rogue, producing nuclear armaments and using them at will.

Iran has been accused of desiring to produce the “bomb”, an allegation it has vehemently denied. To prove its sincerity, it falls back on a fatwa by its Spiritual Leader, Ali Khamene’i, banning the production of nuclear weapons. Their nuclear policy, according to the fatwa, is to pursue nuclear power for civilian purposes. But Iran was not believed because it was dealing with people whose word is not their bond, who think everyone is like them.

Now, this is where our story becomes interesting. Iran insists it has no nuclear weapons and is a party to the NPT, so it allows regular IAEA inspections. On the other hand, Iran’s accuser-in-chief, Israel, possesses a nuclear arsenal estimated to be between 80 and 200 warheads. Yet, it is not a party to the NPT and does not allow IAEA inspections. Despite all this, it is Iran that is under constant international pressure and sanctions because it is suspected that it wants to produce the bomb. Israel, whose officials have recently started talking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is, on the other hand, being pampered.

Perhaps this is why, confident of Western backing, Israel attacked Iran while the country was at the international negotiations table. Many consider the attack to be a violation of international law and international humanitarian law. Yet, Israel and its backers want the world to see them as advocates for peace and a rule-based world order.

However, this is far from the truth to any discerning mind. In the first place, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear activities in a comprehensive agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief that was reached between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the US, plus Germany), along with the European Union, and signed in Vienna on 14 July 2015 after 20 months of negotiations.

President Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018, claiming it failed to curtail Iran’s missile programme and regional influence, only for him to come and “order” Iran to “negotiate” within a two-month ultimatum. Some observers of Middle East affairs opine that it is a ploy for Trump to fulfil Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan of “seven wars in five years.”

Professor Jeffrey David Sachs, an American economist and public policy analyst who is a professor at Columbia University, said: “Israel, under Netanyahu, has planned seven wars in five years to overthrow foreign governments that oppose Israel’s domination and recreate the map of a ‘New Middle East’ without a Palestinian State. Rather than making peace, Netanyahu makes endless war.”

In a write-up in many international policy journals entitled Defending the US from the Israel Lobby, Sachs said, “The governments to be fought and dismantled are those of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran.”

Iran is the only one of the seven countries remaining to be fought. But Israel does not fight directly; it uses America. It’s like the case of the tail wagging the dog, with Israel being the tail and America the dog.

Little wonder Trump came out gloating when Israel attacked Iran in the wee hours of Friday, 13 June, an attack meant to instil fear in the Iranians, stop them from attending Friday prayers and topple the regime. Trump claimed to be aware of the attack that killed Iran’s military commanders and civilian nuclear scientists in their sleep. Trump, who claims he has stopped wars in the world, then gave Iranians hours to vacate the nation’s capital and surrender unconditionally. He did not care, nor did his European counterparts deem it necessary to condemn an attack carried out during an international negotiation.

If the war on Iran is all about nuclear weapons, then it should not have happened.

Tulsi Gabbard, United States Director of National Intelligence, had in March this year testified before the US Congress that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear programme. Still, when told this by the press, Trump quipped, “I don’t care what she says.”

This buttresses why they must manufacture excuses, as done to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, with the bogus claim of the country possessing “Weapons of Mass Destruction”.

CNN’s Christian Amanpour got IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to admit the agency has “no proof of a systematic effort” by Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

“He acknowledged that ‘We did not have… any proof [of] a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon,’” Amanpour wrote on her X account. This was days after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution censuring Iran based on what many saw as a biased and politically driven report.

So, why are America and the Western nations actively encouraging Israel, which has attacked Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, the Coast of Malta and now Iran in the last 600 days, killing as it breathes? Is it, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, that “this is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us (them)”?

To be continued.

Hassan Gimba, anipr, is the CEO/Publisher of Neptune Prime.

This article was published on July 26, 2021, after the Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-ul-Kabir of that year. It remains relevant and vital, with a few adjustments, to be re-published.

Muslims the world over have celebrated the Eid-ul-Adha or the “big Eid” or “big Sallah”. We are, however, more interested in its meaning, implications and bearing on us as a nation. We need to look at spiritual milestones, hoping to find the seemingly elusive panacea for our ills.

Eid means feast, festival or celebration, while adha loosely means “sacrifice” (animal sacrifice), “offering” or “oblation”. It got its name because it commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) devotion to Allah (SWT) and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, for Allah’s love.

The Qur’anic story has it that Ibrahim (AS) experienced a dream in which God ordered him to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (AS). At first, he was sceptical and believed it was the trickery of the accursed devil. After experiencing the dream the following night, he then understood that it was a message and a command from Allah (SWT). Without hesitation, he prepared his son for the sacrifice. Ibrahim (AS) loved his son dearly, yet this was no obstruction to honouring his duty as instructed by Allah (SWT) and, thus, proving his complete submission to Allah (SWT).

Ibrahim (AS) took his son to the top of Mount Arafat, and in his hands, he had a knife and a rope. Upon arrival, he mentioned the dream to his son Ismail (AS) and made him aware that Allah (SWT) had decreed for him to be a sacrifice, and, in obedience, his son Ismail (AS) accepted what God commanded of him. Ismail (AS) asked that his hands and legs be tied to avoid struggling during the sacrifice and that his father should blindfold himself to avoid witnessing his suffering. Ismail was aware of his father’s love towards him and knew that this would be difficult to witness.

However, as Ibrahim (AS) began performing the sacrifice, Allah (SWT) replaced Ismail with a ram and Ismail (AS) was saved unharmed. Allah (SWT) tested Ibrahim (AS) to see his dedication in his submission (Islam) to his creator. In his willingness to obey Allah’s (SWT) commands, Ibrahim (AS) successfully passed the test, and the act of the sacrifice serves as a reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s dedication and devotion to serving Allah (SWT) obediently. Therefore, Eid ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.

The lesson here is that of sacrifice for a better you. We mostly look at the sacrifice from the point of slaughtering a ram for its meat. Even at that, Islam recommends one to get a healthy, mature and meaty sacrificial lamb that will be a beauty to the eye. Looked at closely, the sacrifice should translate to giving up what one loves in exchange for spiritual upliftment.

Any spiritually uplifted man will spread love around. He will not be where there is injustice. He will not be a party to corrupt activities. Above all, that man will not be where another human being is being harmed. Humanity will be safe with him. If the Nigerian Muslims who participated in Eid-ul-Adha take to heart the spirit behind the event, our country will be better than it is now.

It is a sacrifice in self-immolation that can only be compared to the myth of the Thornbird in the fictional book The Thorn Birds, a 1977 bestseller by Colleen McCullough. She set the story in Drogheda, a town that does not exist in Australia. In the front matter of the book, the myth is set out thus: There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest, it searches for a thorn tree and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale—one superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only brought at the cost of great pain. Or so says the legend.

The spirit of Eid ul-Adha teaches us to sacrifice ourselves for God. Ismail (AS) was part of Ibrahim (AS); do not forget. By sacrificing his son, he was also sacrificing himself.

Nigeria, now more than ever in its history, needs citizens who are willing to make sacrifices for its existence. We should frown at a situation where leaders will call on us to change while they indulge in the perfidies associated with our leaders of old.

It is not fair, nor is it right, for leaders to ask followers to tighten their belts while they punch more holes in theirs to accommodate their ever-bulging bellies.

It is also not indicative of leaders with a spirit of sacrifice when they send their children to the best schools around, while the public schools are often little better than pigsties.

The spirit of sacrifice is undoubtedly lacking in leaders who, together with their families, can access the best Medicare, while a larger portion of the population lacks access to basic healthcare facilities.

How can a good Muslim’s conscience not disturb him when he buys good exam results or bribes for his child to get a well-paying job? Why should a good Muslim be happy when he collects money to pass a student or to give him a job?

We are talking about Muslims as citizens because we are referring to an Islamic event that just happened.

However, upon reflection, Christianity also attaches great importance and symbolism to sacrifices. Theirs is even directly and practically connotative of the denial of comfort. Their form of sacrifice focuses on the bodies of their members as a living sacrifice.

I believe all Christians understand Christ’s death on the cross to be a necessary atonement for the sins of humankind. And if it were so, why should a Christian run away from discomforting himself for God to be happy with him?

In reality, all those who make up a nation must sacrifice for the country to be great. All religions teach us to sacrifice, and all our tribes have stories of legends who sacrificed their happiness for that tribe to survive.

The problem with Nigeria, as my friend Barrister Okoroafor Vincent always insists, is not the North, as some Southerners would want us to believe, or the South, as some Northerners would insist. He thinks it is not even Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Tiv, etc. He is also adamant that it is neither Islam nor Christianity. The problem with Nigeria, he opines, is individual selfishness and self-centeredness that border on ‘it is our turn to chop’ and myopia in prioritising the self over the nation. All people from the tribes have that tendency, which is exhibited by adherents of both religions.

The lawyer says that if we can put Nigeria first as our collective interest, then we will have a great nation. I cannot agree more.

Hassan Gimba, anipr, is the CEO/Publisher of Neptune Prime.
 

Readers’ comments on Of journalists’ deaths, security lapses and cut-throat taxes, by Hassan Gimba

Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaihir raji’un! May Allah have mercy upon their souls and grant them Aljanna Firdausi. My condolences to you and through you, to the entire Neptune Prime family as well as Borno journalists. – Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Inna lil Lah, wa inna ilahirraji’un! May Allah forgive their shortcomings and grant them aljannah firdausi, amen. My sincere condolences, and may Allah give you the courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. – SK Usman

Please accept our sincere condolences. – Eng Suleiman Bah Gimba, Magajin Garin Fika

May Allah forgive them. Ameen. – Ibrahim Sheme

May Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings and dwell her soul in Aljannat firdausi. – Shu’aibu Usman Leman

Innalillahi Wa Innailaihir Raji’un. May Allah be merciful to her. May he forgive all her shortcomings and reward her with al-Jannah Firdausi. May Allah give all of us the fortitude to bear this huge loss to the pen profession once again, just a few days after we lost our VOA North East reporter and the NUJ State Chairman, Haruna Dauda Biu. Our hearts and prayers are with their families at this moment of grief. Amin Yahaiyyu Yaqaiyuum Yazuljalal Walikram. – Medina Dauda

Allah Ya jikan ta da rahama. Sannu Hassan. My condolences to you and the family. – Hadizatu Mustapha

InnalilLahi wa inna ilaiHir raji’un! May Allah (SWT) forgive them their sins and accept them into Jannatul Firdaus. Please accept my condolences. – Barrister Farida Kera

InnalilLahi wa inna IlaiHir rajiun! May God forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannah. Amin. – Ibrahim Isa

Please accept my deepest condolences, may Allah rest her soul and make aljanna her abode. – Zare Baba

May Allah repose her soul in Jannah. My sincere condolences to the Management and staff of Neptune Prime. – Yahaya Abdulrahman

May Allah forgive her and bless what she left behind. – Faithful Saadatu Musa

May her soul rest in peace. – Peace Sally Abu

Ahh!! May her gentle soul rest in peace. – Choji Ruth

So sad. God rest your souls. – Oluwasanjo Razak Ahmed

Rest in peace. My condolences to their families. – Juanita Candotan

May Allah forgive their sins and make death a blessing for them. – Khadija Alee

May Allah forgive them. – Hadiza Adamu

May Allah forgive them. – Hauwa Maina Gimba

Chai! Amina Alhassan. So you’re gone! – Celestine Okafor

May her soul rest in peace. – Tabita Burha

May the precious souls of Amina Alhassan Ahman and Haruna Dauda Biu rest eternally in perfect peace in the bosom of God Almighty.

Verily, the scriptures proclaim, “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice.”

We can only pray for the intervention of our merciful God Almighty, our creator, to pave the way for his anointed to come to the rescue, to liberate the people from injustice, oppression and exploitation. Amen. – Tongha Fiubode

Ayyah, what a loss! May Allah admit them into Jannatul Firdaus. – Princess Teemah Paga

May her soul rest in peace with the Lord. – Anna Nasara

May her soul rest in peace. – Nelson Iyobosa Aimienoho

May her soul rest in peace. – Amina Abdullahi

May Allah grant her Aljannatul Fiddausi. – Mairo Hassan

OMG! May her soul rest in God’s bosom. – Maureen Linus

May her soul rest in peace. – Hauwa Maina Gimba

May Allah forgive them their sins and admit them into Al-Jannah Firdaus. – Maimuna Muhammad Babangida

Allahumma gafirlaha wa rahamha. – Mohammed Jankoli

May Allah forgive them. – Hadiza Narogo Ishaq

May Allah forgive them, ameen. – Altine Junior

May Allah forgive all her shortcomings, and may Jannatul Firdaus be her final destination. My condolences, sir. – Usman Idriss

Allahu Akbar. Allahumma agfirlaha warhamha ba’adaha. – Hafsat Idriss

Allahummagh firlaha warhamha. – Ahmad Gimba

Rest in peace. – Daniel Ochekawo Ondugbe Achadu

May Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, Ya Hayyu, Qa qayyum. – Usman Ibrahim

May the Almighty Allah grant her eternal rest and admit her into Aljannatil Firdausi. – Saleh Inusa

May Allah (SWT) forgive her her sins and admit her into al-Jannah Firdaus. – Mohammed Umaru Sulyman

May Allah (SWT) forgive her and admit her into al-Jannah Firdaus. – Hafsatu Muhammad

Innā lilLaah wa innā ilaiHi rājiūn. May Allah forgive her shortfalls and grant her Jannah. – Abdul-Aziz J. Maisamari

May Almighty Allah forgive her and grant her Jannatul Firdaus. – Sadiq Farashis

Inna lilLahi wa’inna ilaiHir raji’un! May Allah SWT forgive her shortcomings and grant her Al Jannatil Firdaus. Ameen. – Hassan Madu Fika

Allah mata rahama, may her soul rest in Jannatul Firdaus. – Hawwah Jiddare

Inna LilLahi wa inna IlaiHir raji’un! May her soul rest in Jannatul Firdausi. Aisha Bashir

InnalilLahi wa’inna ilaiHir raji’un! May Almighty Allah continue to rest her gentle soul in Jannatul Firdaus. – Muhammed Aliyu

May the Almighty Allah grant her eternal rest and admit her into Aljannatil Firdausi. – Ali Baba Adamu

May her soul rest in peace, ameen. – Rajab Mohammed Ismael

Condolences. – John Akpan

May her soul attain eternal bliss. – Abdullahi Buba

Allahu Akbar, may Almighty Allah forgive their shortcomings and grant them Janna. – Umar Adamu

Innah lilLahi wa inna IlaiHir raji’un. May Allah have mercy on her soul and grant her Jannatul Firdaus. Allah ya baku dangana da ranka ya dade. – Halima AbdurRauf

May Allah grant her soul peaceful repose and Jannatul Firdaus be her final abode. Rest on Aunty Amina Alhassan Ebbo. – Hafsat Aleeyu Muye

May Almighty Allah grant her Jannatul Firdausi. – Sa’adatu Lawal Dauda

Subhanallah! May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. – Abubakar Muhammad Usman

Calm woman. May her soul rest in peace. – Cynthia Talatu Batuta

May her soul rest in peace. – Okafor Vivian

May Almighty Allah forgive and grant her eternal rest. – Malam Usman Bin-Affan

May Allah forgive her of her shortcomings. – Ibrahim Musa

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannah. – Yusuf Lawan

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and make her last abode in Jannah, amin. – Ayuba Apagu

InnalilLahi wa’inna ilaiHir rajiun! May her soul rest in peace and Jannatil Firdaus her final abode. – Abubakar Mohammed Bawa

InnalilLahi wa’inna ilaiHir raji’un! May Allāh forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannat Al-Firdaus. – Ibrahim M Aliyu

May Allah forgive her and grant her Jannah. – Yakubu Abubakar

OMG…may her gentle soul find solace in the Lord. – Inigreat Akong

May her gentle soul continue to rest in Jannatul Firdausi. – Maryam Salihu S

My condolences. – Kemi Yesufu

May Allah grant her Aljannatu Fridaus..Aameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum. – Aziza Sani

May Allah SWT repose her soul and grant her eternal rest. – Aliyu Abubakar Iliyasu

My condolences, sir. May her soul rest in eternal peace. – Adams Absalom Kushi

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannah. – Dauda Ali

Allahu Akbar kabiran. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. May Allah Ta’ala forgive her soul and grant her Jannah without reckoning. Sannun mu da hakuri. – Aminatu Musa Kida

InnalilLahi wa’inna ilaiHir raji’un! May Allàh rahma her departed soul with Jannatul Firdaus. – Mohamed Bello

Hajiya was an epitome of all that was positive. I’m personally missing her. My cry cannot bring her back. – Taofeek Lawal Olayemi

May Allah be pleased with her nd grant her peaceful eternity. – Abdul’Azeez Ahmad

May Almighty Allah forgive and have mercy on her. – Shuaibu Umar

May her soul rest in peace. – Aluta King

May her soul rest in Jannah Firdaus. – Baba Ado

May Allah grant her gentle soul eternal peace and mercies, forgive her shortcomings and transgressions and us all. Aameen Ya Allah. – Muhammad H. Bawa

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. – Ahmadu Bello

May her soul continue to rest in perfect peace. – Muhammad Jajere Babayo

May God Almighty comfort her family and grant Amina aljannah. What a huge loss of a gentle and calm woman, always in the company of her two children and brother, Ahman. May God comfort us in the media also. – Timothy Golu

Allahu Akbar, May Allah grant her jannah. – Maji MB  · 

May the Almighty God grant her Aljannatu Firdausi. – Yusuf Buba

Allahummaghfir laha warhamha. Accept my condolences. – Abare Mohammed

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannah. – Mustapha Umar

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. – Nazy H. Abdullahi

May her soul rest in perfect condition in Jannatul Firdausi. – Suleimana Adamu Musa

May her soul rest in Jannatul Fiddaus. – Dayyib Abdullahi Abdullahi

Take heart Malam Gimba. May her soul rest in peace. – Onyenwe Oti

May Allah SWA forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannatul Firdaus, ameen. – Garba Kaigama Bilal

Multiple taxation is one of the major problems that kill businesses in Nigeria. Those who are forced to pay (the organised private sector) are squeezed more annually. While +75% of the “unorganised” traders are never taxed at all, if not for bank charges and the pittance paid to local governments. – Mohammed Bello Dahiru