The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been highly critical of the introduction of Islamic law by Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Sani last month in the small northwest Nigerian state.

In an open letter published in a Nigerian daily newspaper Monday, Sani claimed he had promised ahead of his election in January to introduce Islamic law in the state and said that Christians, who form a small minority population in Zamfara, should not now criticize the move.

"I implore the leadership of (the) Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to stay clear from what Muslims have chosen for themselves," Sani said. "In Islam, whoever calls himself a Muslim and believes in that religion, Sharia is compulsory for him," he said.

The governor said Islamic law was introduced to discourage drunkenness, prostitution, gambling, armed robbery, theft and other social vices. The law would not be applied to non-Muslims, he said.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, who comes from the mainly Christian south of the country, has criticized Sani's action, questioning its constitutionality, but has so far refused to order Sani to withdraw it.

Obasanjo said Thursday he believed Sharia would never actually be applied in Zamfara and said the attempt would "fizzle out."

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