The Hisbah police and hypocrisy of destroying beer

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By Odumodu Gbulagu

One of the greatest problems we have in Nigeria is religion, as it has done us more harm than good.

Nigeria is a secular state in which all sorts of religions are practiced.
From Christianity to Islam, to Atheism, African traditional Religion and others.

Nigeria constitution guarantees freedom of worship, thereby there is no state religion in Nigeria.

In a multi ethnic, and religious country like Nigeria, there ought to be peaceful coexistence.
In as much as every religion should be accorded respect, and blasphemy avoided, there ought to be high level of tolerance among religious bodies and the society.

That a particular religion forbids a particular thing, they shouldn’t force people of other faith living in their midst to forbid it too.

When it was reported that the Hisbah police destroyed over 30 trailers of beer in December of 2018, it didn’t go down well with me.

Why would they destroy something that they reap benefits such as VAT (Value Added Tax) from?

This is someone’s business for crying out loud.
Every beer and other alcoholic drinks has 18+ mark, showing that it’s for people above 18 years of age.

If the state government can’t tolerate it, they should also forfeit all the taxes the companies that manufacture those drinks pay.

It’s hypocritical for the Hisbah police to overlook the malaise of drug abuse in Kano in particular, and the North in general, and concentrate only on alcohol.

Dangerous drugs like codeine, rophynol, tramadol, even pit toilets, etc are grossly abused in Kano and other parts of the North, and the consequences and damages are enormous and no longer hidden.

Why not concentrate on these banned substances that are wreaking havoc in the North, and allow non Muslims who chose to drink alcohol be?

Why not look where these drugs are coming in from despite its ban?

The Hisbah police may actually be trying, but let them set their priorities right, as other more damaging drugs are sold almost at all the corners of Northern states, and government doesn’t get anything from the sale of the drugs.

If actually they want a ban on alcohol, they should also stop spending the taxes accrued to these states from the proceeds of alcohol.

Odumodu Gbulagu can be reached at [email protected]

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