17th October, 2018
PRESS RELEASE:
OBASANJO/ATIKU DETENTE: LEAVE GUMI AND
KUKAH ALONE
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added to the cacophony of voices on
the recent reconciliation between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and former
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
According to MURIC in its press release of early Wednesday, 17th
October, 2018, signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, there is
nothing out of place in what took place during the Abeokuta armistice.
“People
should stop blaming Shaykh Gumi and Reverend Kukah. They have every right to
attend any occasion so long as they did not gatecrash. They are not from Sierra
Leone. They are bona fide Nigerian citizens and to that extent they cannot be
described as meddlers.
“Even those who blame them for showing interest in Atiku Abubakar as the
presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) missed the point.
They should actually be commended for being bold enough to come out openly to
be part of the event”.
Akintola, who recently bagged the Islamic title, Asadul-‘Aarifiin, i.e. Lion of Islamic
Scholars (Kinniun Adinni), argued that the Abeokuta declaration has further
buttressed the popular belief that there are no permanent friends or enemies in
politics, only common interest.
“We in MURIC do not subscribe to the idea that people
should jettison politics because of religion. People who avoid politics because
they are devoted Christians or Muslims end up being ruled by the disciples of
Shaytan (Satan) who lack the fear of Allah. For social harmony, progress and
good governance, religion and politics should go hand in hand. Tyranny, misrule
and dictatorship of the left are bound to reign supreme where politics is left
to men who do not fear Allah.
“Both
Christians and Muslims should participate in politics to avoid being ruled by
people who are inferior to them, people who are heartless, people who despise
religion. Socrates was therefore right when he said, ‘The wise who refuse to
rule should prepare to suffer the rule of idiots’
“We therefore urge Nigerians to stop the blame game. Both Shaykh Gumi and
Reverend Kukah have merely exercised their Allah-given fundamental right of
expression and freedom of association. It is a challenge to the rest of us.
Although both drammatis personae have
denied any political motive, the issue here is not whether the move was
political or apolitical. The body language, particularly if we read it from the
pre-Abeokuta detente is as clear as
daylight.
“Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once remarked that the refusal
to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent
acquiescence to evil. He added further that the tragedy of our time is that
those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who
believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction.
“This is not the time to sit on the fence. It is Nigeria’s
moment of decision. We must therefore gird our loins not only in preparation
for the coming general election but for the emergence of a new Nigeria. While
we are aware that politicians will only prepare for the approaching 2019
general elections, we beseech statesmen and patriotic Nigerians to prepare for
the evolution of a new nation where corruption, vote-buying, politics of
stomach infrastructure, acrobatic religiousity and ethnic jingoism will give
way to a civilized political culture, transparency, accountability and massive
infrastructural buildup all over the country.
“MURIC has long taken a position and nothing has happened
to change that stance. We stand with integrity. Project Nigeria is our
priority. We believe in a strong, united Nigeria. We believe in a Nigeria where
merit is the parameter, not religion, not ethnicity. The achievements of
President Muhammadu Buhari in spite of the political landmines and gargantuan
challenges inspire us and we believe that it is in the best interest of Nigeria
that we allow him to continue beyond 2019”.
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
thank you sir
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