* Says Yoruba socio-cultural body has become a tool of religious hatred
* Backs MURIC’s stand on Ekiti mosque demolitions
The Nigeria Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (NIMEGG) has accused Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, of constituting itself into an enemy of Islam in Nigeria.
The group said some members of Afenifere have hijacked the structure to manifest their hatred for Islam, instead of facing their role of defending the Yoruba culture.
This was contained in a statement by its Southwest Coordinator, Mallam AbdulRasheed Ajao, who warned Afenifere to refrain from its 50 years campaign against Islam and its adherents.
Muslim News reports that the backstory to this statement was the harsh criticism of Afenifere against the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Lakin Akintola, who had condemned the hostilities against Muslims in Ekiti State following the demolition of two mosques within the space of six months.
Afenifere, in a statement signed by Chairman of its Ekiti State Chapter, Prince Gabriel Alonge, asked the Department of State Security (DSS) to place Prof. Akintola on its watchlist.
But Ajao said under no circumstance would MURIC be left alone as long as it defends the rights of Islam and Muslims against oppressors, adding that Afenifere members have constituted themselves into enemies of peace, progress, harmonious relationship and religious coexistence.
“The Muslims of this generation will no longer accept the situation where cultists cease or steal our Yoruba identity to perpetuate hatred and division among the Yoruba sons and daughters,” the statement read.
“NIMEGG is therefore calling all lovers of peace, unity and love in Yorubaland to call Afenifere to order. Yoruba Muslims will no longer tolerate Afenifere’s anti-Muslim agenda and shenanigans. We have known Afenifere for decades. Its members are largely cultists and traditionalists who have hijacked the supposed Yoruba umbrella body for their narrow and selfish agenda. We (NIMEGG) challenge Afenifere to point out or mention any conscious Muslim or a true, an uncompromised/born again Christian in their fold.
“Afenifere has for long pretended and claimed they were serving the interest of the Yoruba and Yorubaland, but the fact remains that the purported members of Afenifere are neither appointed, nominated nor voted for at anytime to represent us. Unlike other social-cultural organisations like Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere is occultic, undemocratic and non-tolerant of other Yorubas who who do not belong to their cult.”
NIMEGG said no amount of intimidation would make Muslims compromise their rights in Yorubaland.
It added that it is shameful for Afenifere to call on security agencies to place a bonafide Yoruba son under watchlist for fighting for the rights of Yorubas who are being oppressed in their land.
“Should anything happen to Professor Lakin Akintola, Afenifere will surely be held responsible, and they should be prepared to face the wrath of the Yoruba Muslims. We know your ways, we know your antics,” the statement said.
“Afenifere is only being smart by half. It is simply being hypocritical. We challenge Afenifere to tell the world the crime of Professor Akintola. For sure, their goal is merely to silence the Muslim Ummah in Yorubaland.
“Afenifere should know that Islam is a true religion of Allah, hence their failure to extinguish its light, despite 50 years of consistent attacks and their antagonism will surely fail.
“Afenifere is still pained that despite its opposition to hijab and its criminal silence when Yoruba women were being oppressed and were fighting for their rights to use hijab in the public, they (Yoruba women) still got justice at the Supreme Court. We watch with keen interest how Afenifere and its members have resisted attempts by Muslims to have their religious customary laws – Shari’ah and how they have never raised a finger during unlawful demolition of mosques in Yoruba states.
“Please let Yoruba Muslims breathe. Don’t force us to come to the streets in all Yorubaland. Enough is enough. No, going back, MURIC is not on his own. We, Muslims in Yorubaland and across the world are all with him.”
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