Nigeria’s Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has condemned the Federal Government’s sudden change of position on Palestine’s independence. It was reacting to Tuesday’s development in which Nigeria abstained from voting at the UN Security Council, thereby truncating efforts to resolve the 66-year-old Palestinian crisis.

Addressing a press conference on the issue, the Secretary General of NSCIA, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, wondered why Nigeria, which was known for supporting justice, freedom and independence of nations, could deliberately abstain from voting for the emancipation of Palestine when it mattered most.

He described the act as mischievous, wondering how the country could be involved in transmitting its local crisis of religious divide to the outside world. He recalled that General Ibrahim Babangida, a Muslim, restored Nigeria’s relationship with Israel severed by General Yakubu Gowon, who is a Christian, having known that the issue at stake was not religious.

Oloyede wondered why the Goodluck Jonathan administration could not do the right thing. He added that people would understand why USA and Britain voted against Palestine freedom but Nigeria has no excuse.

The NSCIA Secretary General challenged the Federal Government to explain to Nigerians why it took such inhuman action against Palestine people who need freedom.

•Photo shows NSCIA Secretary General Oloyede.