25th October,
2023
PRESS RELEASE:
NYESOME WIKE: DON’T CRUCIFY GUMI – MURIC
Shaykh Ahmad Gumi recently criticized the Minister of the capital
territory, Nyesome Wike, for hosting the ambassador of Israel in his office. Although
Gumi also came under attack from several quarters over his comments, an Islamic
human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has risen to the
defence of Shaykh Ahmad Gumi. MURIC said Shaykh Gumi has the right to
self-expression as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, 25th
October, 2023 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The full statement reads:
“Shaykh Ahmad Gumi has come under a tornado of criticisms over his
recent comments on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former
governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike (https://newsdiaryonline.com/pandef-mbf-tackle-gumi-others-over-anti-wike-campaign/).
.
“We are of the candid opinion that most responders were propelled
by emotion, not by the facts on ground. Our opinion is based on the antecedents
of the minister himself, Nyesome Wike, because there is no smoke without fire.
“Gumi’s comment has been taken
in isolation as if the Shaykh just woke up from sleep and started talking.
Something must have prompted him. Why didn’t he tackle any other minister? Why
Wike alone among all other ministers? Gumi’s comments on Wike should be
assessed against the backdrop of Wike’s actions and spoken words if we want to
be objective.
“The truth is that Wike is not
innocent. He has been garrulous. He has also been too visibly anti-Muslim. As
the governor of Rivers State, Wike demolished a mosque in Port Harcourt against
all pleas.
“Again, Wike declared Rivers
State a Christian State (https://punchng.com/rivers-is-a-christian-state-wike-insists/).
This was done in blatant violation of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states very clearly: ‘The Government of
the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State religion.’
“No sooner than Wike became
the minister of the Federal Capital Territory than he announced that he
intended to hand over the security of the all-important territory to Israel.
MURIC saw the danger in this and warned the minister (https://dailytrust.com/muric-cautions-wike-over-planned-security-deal-with-israel/#:~:text=We%20like%20to%20warn%20that,global%20espionage%20outfits%20like%20the).
“But Wike ignored the warning and went ahead to invite the
ambassador of Israel to his office. That was an arrogant display of power as
well as a manifestation of gross insensitivity. Wike is aware that anything
that has to do with Israel is volatile. Israel is a controversial country and
Nigerians will not touch it with a long pole. Israel is killing thousands of
children and pregnant women while it flagrantly violates international laws and
ignores resolutions of the United Nations. How can Wike be so insensitive?
“That office does not belong to Wike personally. He occupies it in
trust. But by inviting the Israeli ambassador there at a time Israel is
committing war crimes and Nigerians are demonstrating against that apartheid state,
Wike has abused the trust given to him by the Nigerian Senate representing the
good people of Nigeria That invitation sent the wrong signals to the
international community as Nigeria’s official endorsement of Israel’s
atrocities.
“Nobody will stop Wike if he
wakes up Hitler or Mussolini from their graves and invites them to accompany
Netanyahu to his personal house. The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria is the face
of Israel. As far as Nigerians are concerned that ambassador is the embodiment
of Israeli crimes against humanity. Not a few Nigerians will keep him at a safe
distance but Wike decided to swim against the current.
“Wike should know his limitations. The last time MURIC checked, the
President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not Ezenwo
Nyesome Wike, CON. He should not usurp the office of the president. Besides, Abuja
is not an annex of Rivers State.
“Wike’s invitation to the Israeli ambassador was ultra vires.
He should leave that to the minister of foreign affairs. He should desist from intruding
into the jurisdictions of other ministers and bullying every other official in
Abuja. Wike can invite the ambassador of Israel to his personal house but not
to his office.
“Another pointable point is that Wike has a reputation challenge
among Nigerian Muslims due to his anti-Muslim proclivities as exhibited during
his tenure as governor of Rivers State. He succeeded in courting the hatred of
Muslims during that period.
“While it is true that not
every Muslim will agree with Shaykh Gumi on entrusting Nigeria’s security
apparatus to a Christian, nobody should attempt to guillotine Shaykh Gumi for
cautioning the garrulous and fiery minister.
“MURIC advises public office holders to be circumspect, to manifest
sensitivity to the feeling of Nigerians and, above all, to think twice on
matters that may have religious undertone before commenting on them. Silence
cannot be more golden than in public office.
“Section 39
of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression by stipulating
as follows: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression,
including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and
information without interference. The Tsunami of
condemnations hurled at Shaykh Gumi was therefore uncalled for because he
merely expressed his mind.
“Unfortunately it is when a Muslim speaks that merchants of hate
suspend the principles of freedom of speech. When others utter hate-filled scud
missiles at Muslims they call it free speech. It is the age of double standard.
Fairness and justice have taken leave of the entire world. Might is right.
“We call on the heads of Nigerian security agencies to do
everything possible to stop Wike from placing our collective safety in the
hands of a murderous state like Israel. Genuine security derives from mutual
trust. Nigerians will never trust, support or cooperate with any security
paraphernalia built for Abuja FCT by Israel.
“As we draw the curtain, we reiterate our position on the raging
controversy over Shaykh Gumi’s comments on Wike. All condemnations of Shaykh
Gumi on this issue in particular is an attempt to freeze free speech. The FCT
minister himself invited Gumi’s comments due to his anti-Muslim and far right
Christian stance when he was governor of Rivers State.”
##ShaykhGumi
#FreedomOfSpeech
#Wike
#AbujaNotRiversState
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
