6th March, 2019
REJECT FANATICAL CANDIDATES
As the gubernatorial and house of
assembly elections draw near, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised
Nigerians to reject candidates who manifest religious fanaticism.
This was stated in a press
statement signed by the Director of the human rights organization, Professor
Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 6th March, 2019.
“We have to get things
right in this country. We heard some people making laughable predictions before
the presidential elections. Their prognostications came to nothing. Some of
them even said the president would die if he tried to contest. Well, you all
saw what happened. The president contested and won the election. He is still as
fit as a fiddle. But the funny thing is that some Nigerians are still following
such opportunists and liars.
“It is clear that many people did
not learn any lesson from that. No, not our people. We are still exploiting
religious sentiment. A candidate in Oyo State distributed thousands of posters
on which were inscribed the words: I am your brother in
Faith, I need your support, prayer and vote. Nigerian Christians must vote and
pray. Oyo State Chapter Urges Churches in Oyo State to vote …(name withheld) as Executive Governor of Oyo State 2019.
“That
is how low we have descended. The only qualification a candidate now needs to
possess is membership of our worship centers. Who did this to Nigeria? How can
anyone hold this candidate accountable in governance when he has his brothers
in faith to defend every wrong step he takes?
“No
civilized society will allow political campaigns to take this lowly turn. It is
kindergarten, pedestrian and puerile. What is the substance in this kind of
appeal? There is nothing there to offer except faith and brotherhood. Where is competence?
Where is respect for the rule of law? What does he have to say about the security
of lives and properties? Where is the promise to deliver the dividends of
democracy? Can anybody blame this candidate if he wins the election and syphons
every kobo to private pockets?
“Candidates
must showcase reasonable credentials and manifestos before we can support them.
We must scrutinize their antecedents. Mere membership of the same mosque or
church is not enough. That is sentiment. Thieves also worship in mosques and
churches. Not everyone who wears a turban is an Imam and not everyone who wears
a cassock is a cleric. Nigeria is a land of acrobatic religiousity and
paradoxical criminality. If we are to judge by the proliferation of churches
and mosques, there should be no single thief or drug dealer in Nigeria but the
reverse is the case.
“MURIC
calls on Nigerians to reject religious fanatics among the candidates warming up
for the elections this Saturday, 9th March, 2019. Pastors and Imams
who instruct their followers on who they should vote for are doing so for
selfish reasons. They are saying it to the hearing of the candidates so that
they can reap tremendous gains when the candidates win. The gains will come in
form of huge tithes and sadaqah for the next four years and for doing virtually
nothing.
“Tax-payers’ money that
should be used to provide infrastructure will go into the pockets of
individuals. Mallams and pastors will corner juicy contracts at the expense of genuine
contractors. Yet they will end up doing shoddy jobs and governors will not be
able to complain. Our roads will remain bumpy. The roofs of our school
buildings will continue to leak. The
state cannot make any palpable progress because instead of promoting economic
progress, fanatical governors will encourage people to spend the whole of their
lives praying on their knees in churches or on their mats in the mosques. These
are candidates who turn religion into the people’s opium.
“That does not mean that we
condemn prayers in toto. We should work
hard and pray a little. Ora et labora.
Don’t waste your vote on gymnastic fanatics. Don’t vote for any candidate
because he belongs to your faith. Are you sure of his character? Are you sure
he is competent? Vote for workaholics and seasoned technocrats. Vote for credible
candidates. Vote for probity, accountability and transparency. Vote for men and
women of honour. Vote for integrity.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC)
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