Popular Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC has criticised the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde for participating in the June 12 protest in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Nigerians had trooped out on Saturday to protest against the mal-administration of Nigeria President, General Muhammadu Buhari.
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In a statement signed by the organisation’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, the organisation argued that Nigerians had no moral right to protest on June 12 after President Buhari had recognised the date officially when past administrations had refused to do so.
Akintola said, “Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021, with demonstrations. Although in negligible numbers, the protests took place in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and a few other places;
“We commend the police for handling the protests with maturity and professionalism as no casualties or brutalities were reported. However, the protesters exposed themselves as certificated ingrates, unrepentant rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace.”
He went ahead to condemn the participation of the Oyo State Governor in the protest on Saturday which he described as “shameful, most reprehensible and most preposterous.”
“It is most naïve for a sitting executive governor who came into office riding on the back of democracy to join a group seeking the removal of a democratically elected president through undemocratic means. It was a great disservice to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. Seyi Makinde is an ingrate nulli secundus. He should apologise to Nigerians for his immature behaviour.”
Prof Ishaq, however, urged the president whom he described as “Jesus” to overlook the “ten lepers” — protesters who are ungrateful to him despite his efforts to build a better Nigeria.
“MURIC calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those who are ungrateful to him. He should continue his good work. We ask him to reflect on the words of Allah where He said, ‘What does Allah stand to gain if you show gratitude and belief? Allah is the One who shows gratitude (i.e. Allah is the One who knows how to reward good deeds) and He knows everything’ (Glorious Qur’an 4:147).”
What a shame! Like Buhari, I was shocked when I saw this. It shows how politically motivated religious organisations and associations are in Nigeria. These kinds of associations ought to be apolitical and objective in this criticism. But unfortunately they are not oftentimes.
Until religion is separated from politics and ethnicity, Nigeria will always suffer setbacks from religious bigots and ethnocentric imperialists in power.
Religion! Religion! Religion!
Beware of it.