Encomium
Muslim community in Lagos state have reacted to the demand by the Christian leadership that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s successor must be a Christian come 2015, describing it as preposterous and utterly undemocratic.
In a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the national missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik AbdurRahman Ahmad said it’s capable of polarizing the state along religious lines and jeopardizing the peaceful co-existence among various religious groups in the whole of the South-West.
He said, “Never in the history of Lagos or any other state in the South-West was any governorship candidate formally nominated or elected based on his religious identity. That’s why it’s possible to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket like we had in Lagos in the Second Republic during Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s reign, or a Christian-Christian ticket like we had more recently in Osun State under Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola.”
Sheik Ahmad, who spoke for the entire Muslims in Lagos state under the auspices of Conference of Islamic Organisation (CIO), stated that any attempt by any political party to foist any candidate on Lagos on the basis of religion would spell doom for such candidate at the polls.
“Let the candidates emerge naturally, religious affiliation does not guarantee good governance as we have seen in the current democratic dispensation.”
The Islamic leader also spoke on the growing insecurity and other calamitous developments in Nigeria at a gathering well attended by ulamah (scholars) of different Islamic organisations in Nigeria.
According to him, the greatest headache plaguing the nation is the Boko Haram insurgency. The murderous escapades of the Boko Haram insurgents have assumed an alarming proportion in recent times, and the group has become seemingly invincible. Despite the expensive military campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents in the last few years, their onslaught has even become more catastrophic.
“The Boko Haram insurgents are neither representing Islam nor muslims”, Sheik Ahmad insisted, stressing that muslim leaders across the country have vehemently condemned the nefarious activities of the criminal group.
“In fact, it would appear that the Boko Haram campaign is even targeted at Islam and muslims. It’s on record that the insurgents have killed more Muslims than non-muslims since their emergence.
“Recent developments across the country have tended to lend credence to the growing concerns among Muslims that the so-called Boko Haram insurgents may be non-muslims tutored to act as muslims, with a view to maligning Islam.”
Sheik Ahmad cited a recent case of foiled attempt by some Osun State Christian leaders to launch a fake Boko Haram attack on a church in Olaoluwa Local Government of the state, with a view to implicating muslims and smearing Islam.
According to the petition sent to the Osun State Police Commissioner by the State muslim leaders, the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Ikonifin town in Olaoluwa Local Government of the state, Mr. M.O. Olatoke who is also the CAN chairman of the local government, had conspired with three members of his church to launch a fake Boko Haram assault on his church.
His accomplices, Emmanuel Atanda, Peter Oyedepo and Ogunniyi Babatope were garbed in Islamic apparels when they stormed the church during service on Sunday, May 18, 2014, and hurled explosives into the congregation. Their subsequent attempt to disappear into the thin air was foiled by some youth in the town who chased and apprehended them.
“Had they escaped, the attack would have been blamed on muslims in the town and the conflagration that might have ensured afterwards would have been grave”, said Sheik Ahmad. “There are attempts by christian leaders within and outside the state to truncate the case.
“The muslim community rejects the attempt to sweep the case under the carpet, and demand that the state police command thoroughly investigates the matter and arraign the suspects accordingly. We call on the Inspector General of Police to wade into the matter to ensure that justice is done.
Sheik Ahmad also urged Federal Government and the international community to intensify the efforts aimed at rescuing the over two hundred female students abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents from Chibok. “It’s a national shame that the girls are still in captivity up till this moment.”
-RASHEED ABUBAKAR
