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TEXT
OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 28TH MAY, 2014 ON THE FAILED
ATTEMPT TO IMPLICATE MUSLIMS IN A BOKO HARAM ‘ATTACK’ ON A CHURCH IN OSUN STATE
Distinguished Muslim Leaders,
Brothers and Sisters in Islam,
Gentlemen of the Press,
As-Salaam Alaykum,
I welcome you all to this World
Press Conference. The need for this briefing is informed by a curious
development in Osun State.
ATTEMPT
BY A PASTOR IN OSUN STATE TO IMPLICATE MUSLIMS IN BOKO HARAM ‘ATTACK’:
You are all aware of the precarious
security situation in the country today with particular reference to the Boko
Haram insurgency. Let me remind you that the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim
Ummah, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto
and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
(NSCIA) has vehemently condemned the activities of Boko Haram. All Islamic
organizations in the country have also rejected the group. Condemnation of Boko
Haram and its satanic activities have also emanated from leading Islamic
scholars in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
It is however sad to note that in
spite of this all-round rejection of the renegade group by Muslims, a large
section of the Christian community, some sections of the Nigerian security
agencies and a section of the Nigerian press still treat mainstream Muslims in
the country either as active members of Boko Haram, sympathizers of the group
or their accomplices.
This does not make sense because more Muslims than
Christians have been killed since the emergence of this ugly phenomenon. More
Islamic scholars have also been killed than Christian clerics, particularly
Islamic scholars who speak out against Boko Haram. In addition, at least three
Northern Emirs have been attacked by the rebellious group.
It is now becoming clear that in
spite of all these glaring facts, while some good and level-headed Christians
continue to interact peacefully with Muslims, some overzealous Christians
use every means possible to link peace-loving Muslims with the activities of
Boko Haram.
A good example of these fanatical
Christians is the pastor of the Baptist Church, Ikonifin, Osun State, who
attempted to launch false Boko Haram in the State. According to reports, Pastor
Olatoke, who is also the CAN President of Ola Oluwa Local Government, conspired with three
members of his church, Emmanuel Atanda, Peter Oyedepo and Ogunniyi Babatope to
launch a false Boko Haram attack on his church with the aim of blaming Muslims
for the attack.
They
therefore dressed like Muslims, wrapped their heads in turbans and covered
their faces to avoid being recognized by members of the church. They stormed the church during the church service held on
Sunday 18th May, 2014.
They threw banga which sounded like
gunfire thus scaring all the worshippers who thought they were real Boko Haram
insurgents. On seeing this, the worshippers took to their heels, running helter
skelter to save their lives. Many of them were injured. They then jumped on
their getaway motorcycles and sped off into the dark night.
Fortunately
the ‘attackers’ were arrested by the youths of the community. The culprits
later confessed that they were members of the same church which they came to
‘attack’. They also revealed that it was their pastor who planned the whole
thing. When confronted, the pastor said it was just ‘drama’.
The case was reported at Bode Osi
Police Station, near Iwo. MURIC is aware that some powerful Christians are now
trying to bury the case. We are also amused by the paucity of reportage for the
incident in spite of its serious implications and eye-opening value. Osun State chapter of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Oba of Ikonifin have been
fingered as parties attempting to sweep the case under the carpet.
The implications of a Boko Haram
‘attack’ on a church in Yorubaland is better imagined than experienced. Muslims
generally would have been the ones to suffer if this grand conspiracy had
succeeded. Security agents
would have picked up many Muslim leaders. Yoruba militant groups like the Odua
Peoples Congress (OPC) would have pounced on the Hausa communities in the
South-West for a pound of flesh. It has happened before. It can happen again.
May Allah forbid evil speculations. Christians in Yorubaland would have started
attacking their Muslim neighbours, burning mosques and properties of Muslims.
MURIC
seizes this opportunity to alert the Federal Government, the Senate, the House
of Representatives, delegates in the ongoing National Conference, the Inspector
General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Services
(SSS). The whole world must know that this is exactly how some
Christians have been roping Muslims unjustly and labeling them as terrorists.
There may be more of such plans.
CALL ON
OSUN STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE:
In particular, we charge the
Commissioner of Police in Osun State to do the needful. The law must be allowed
to take its full course and quickly too. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Pastor Olatoke has disturbed the
peace of Osun State and if we want peace in the state, he and his fellow
trouble-makers must be dealt with according to the law in order to serve as
deterrent to others. False alarm is a criminal offence and this problem must be
nipped in the bud because it is election year in Osun State.
APPEAL
TO MUSLIMS:
We appeal to all Muslims to remain
calm and law-abiding. We call on Muslims not to judge the rest of Nigerian
Christians by the attitude of Pastor Olatoke. We implore you to continue to
love and tolerate your neighbours.
Allah created the world for love and
peace and gave us Islam as the religion of peace. We urge you to intensify your
prayers for peace to return to Nigeria. Pray that Allah should expose all those
behind the Boko Haram saga in Northern Nigeria. Pray against the spread of this
social cankerworm to other parts of Nigeria. Pray for a peaceful 2014 election
in Osun State.
KIDNAPPED
CHIBOK GIRLS:
MURIC appeals to the leader of Boko
Haram, Abubakar Shekau, to set the Chibok girls and all other captive females
free. We call on the Federal Government to continue the process of negotiation
for the kidnapped girls until their freedom is secured.
We also understand the latest
decision of the Nigerian military not to attempt to rescue the kidnapped girls
in a daring raid. It is clear enough now that any attempt to forcefully free
the girls may result in a national catastrophe. The number involved is too
high. The possibility of high casualty among the girls in case of a raid is
therefore very high. No responsible government will allow it.
APPEAL
FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE:
MURIC seizes this opportunity to
appeal to Nigerians of different backgrounds and culture to rekindle their
passion for peaceful coexistence, neighbourliness, forgiveness, love and
tolerance. These are the golden values and true teachings of Christianity and Islam.
We are prepared to live peacefully
with our neighbours regardless of their faith. We therefore call on all
Nigerians to reject any attempt by rabble-rousers like Pastor Olatoke to cause
mayhem by demonizing Muslims.
SPECIAL
APPEAL TO THE PRESS:
MURIC appreciates the sacrifices
being made by the Fourth Estate of the Realm particularly in these difficult
times. We regard the media as powerful partners whose role can make or mar the
entire process. We therefore charge you to discharge your duties with
utmost sense of patriotism and responsibility.
MURIC
advocates that the press should create a level playing ground for all religious
groups. A situation where the
press catches pneumonia when the leaders of a certain religious group cough
whereas a news blackout is placed on the leaders of another group is highly
unethical. It does not portray our press as professional.
We advise against incitement of one
religious group against the other as this is capable of igniting chaos in our
society. We remind Nigerian journalists that they also belong to this same
society and working towards its destruction is, to say the least,
self-defeating.
Finally, we thank the press for its
cooperation with MURIC over the years. We look forward to working together in the
days ahead.
Gentlemen of the press, thank you
for coming.
Alhaji Tijani Shehu Abdul Razaq Uthman
SECRETARY P. R. O.
Professor Ishaq
Akintola
DIRECTOR
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