26th
November, 2021
PRESS RELEASE :
WARNING ON OLUWO: MURIC REPLIES TRADITIONALISTS
The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWASO) yesterday
renewed its threat to invade Iwo, Osun State over what it described as
unacceptable statements made by the Oluwo of Iwo. But the group also warned the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), to stay away because it is not fighting Muslims.
In a swift response circulated to the media on Friday, 26th
November, 2021, MURIC said Islam does not permit the use of abusive language
against people of other faiths. But the group also advised the traditionalists
to take their protests to Osogbo which is the seat of government if indeed
their intention is to ask the state government to remove the Oluwo of Iwo. The
statement was signed by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads :
“The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWASO) yesterday
renewed its threat to invade Iwo, Osun State over what it described as
unacceptable statements made by the Oluwo of Iwo. But the group also warned the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), to stay away because it is not fighting Muslims (https://www.blueprint.ng/osun-traditionalists-draw-battle-with-oluwo-warn-muric-to-stay-away/).
“Let us make some things very clear. Firstly,
the warning that MURIC should stay away is absolutely unnecessary because we
never said we were coming to Iwo to stop the invasion. MURIC is an intellectual
group whose method resides in engaging people in discourse, enlightening the
citizenry, particularly Muslims, about their Allah-given and fundamental human rights
and protecting those basic civil rights. An intellectual group does not wield
weapons or engage in fracas. We are civilised citizens, not hoodlums.
“Secondly, we appreciate the statement made by the traditionalists
yesterday particularly the part where they said, ‘let me sound a note of caution to MURIC, be honest, fair and just
in your dealings and utterances. We are not fighting Islam or Oba Oluwo
because he is a Muslim king. After all, he is not the only Muslim king and he
is not the only wise one, (least to say) that others are not knowledgeable of
their personal religion and role as Oba.’
“This statement is the beginning of dialogue and, hopefully, some
modicum of understanding between us and the traditionalists. As an Islamic
group, we will never be unfair or unjust to any individual or group. Neither
does our religion teach or allow injustice or the use of abusive words against
people of other faiths.
“This brings us to the threat of invasion made by the
traditionalists. Our message to those who threaten to invade Iwo is this: You will be seen
as the aggressors if you march on Iwo. Afterall Oluwo did not come to your
headquarters to attack you. Your grouse is his speech which you claim is
provocative. An aggrieved but law abiding citizen who wants to lodge a report
will go to the police station, not the other party’s house.
“Invasion of Iwo will amount to
wilful aggression capable of occasioning harm. It will be unlawful assembly.
What MURIC will advise the aggrieved traditionalists is to go to Osogbo. That
is the seat of government, not Iwo. It is only a spirit of belligerence that
will make them invade Iwo town. This may lead to confrontation.
“The traditionalists also have an alternative if they want to
follow due process and respect social decorum. They should go to court if they
have evidence of invectives poured on their gods and idols by the Oluwo. The
traditionalists made a good point when they asked us if we would allow anyone
to insult our Prophet (SAW). They are correct to that extent. But they should
not be too aggressive.
“As an Islamic group, it behoves us
to let the traditionalists (including the people of Iwo) know that Islam does
not allow Muslims to abuse other faiths and their gods. The Glorious Qur’an has
already warned us on this when it said, ‘Do not revile what they worship
besides Allah, lest they vilify Allah out of spite…’(6:108).
“For this reason, Muslims should not insult what other people
worship. The Qur’an also amplifies this further by saying what others worship
are for them and what the Muslims worship is for the Muslims (110:1-6). Therefore
our philosophy in MURIC is noninterference in the religious practices of other
groups so long as they also leave us alone to freely practice our own. In
short, we in MURIC do not support pouring abuses on traditionalists, Christians
or people of other faiths.
“If it is true that Oluwo has poured invectives on traditional
religion, there are civilized ways to go about it.It should not be by
threatening invasion. There are laws for such situations. Why do we have a
government? Democracy promotes rule of law but we all must first respect that
rule of law. To respect the rule of law, the traditionalists must not threaten
to invade any city. They should allow the law to act for them if anyone in Iwo
has violated the law.
“Concerning the insinuation that we are supporting Oluwo in
wrongdoing, we assure the traditionalists that MURIC does not engage in
mischief. We are promoters of justice and fairness. We will not support any
wrongdoer just because he is a Muslim (Qur’an 4:135).
“The way out is for the traditionalists to go to court. The law
will protect them. The court can make a pronouncement barring the Oluwo from
making such statements in future and he will be acting in contempt of court
ruling if he repeats it. He is not above the law.
“But the same law will bare its fangs against the traditionalists
if they ignore due process and decide to take the law into their hands. Any
invasion of Iwo town will be recorded by the indigenes. Even old market women
have cameras in their handsets these days. A lot of exhibit will be compiled
against them, including the threats issued by them earlier. Traditionalists
should not complacently assume that they can always have their way. That will
be impunity. The climate has changed. The boastful l’etat cest moi is
now anachronistic.
“The traditionalists said they are not fighting Muslims but they
want to invade a city whose population is 90% Muslims. Is the Oluwo not a
Muslim? Is this not divide et impera? Will it not be easy for them to
deal with the remaining Muslims after intimidating the Oluwo? Is it going to be
easy entering the city and going straight to the palace to pick the king?
“Going by the antecedent of traditional worshippers, tears, blood
and sorrow are their characteristic footprints wherever they invade like this. Many
Muslims were injured in mosques invaded in Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states in the
past few months. As we speak, there is a case in the Osogbo High Court over the
murder of a Muslim leader killed a few months ago when traditionalists attacked
Muslims at an Islamic programme.
“MURIC advises the people of Iwo to
go about their normal and legitimate businesses without fear. They should
continue to worship freely and allow others to worship. Based on the warnings
in Qur’an 6:108 and 110:1- 6, sermons and speeches particularly in mosques and
public gatherings should be devoid of inflammatory remarks, threats or derisive
statements calculated at demeaning other faiths. These are the rules set by
Islam for the promotion of religious tolerance and interfaith love.
“Nonetheless, as we seek peace and offer the traditionalists
alternative courses, we take serious note of the spiritual warfare launched by
the traditionalists against Iwo town. In the group’s statement yesterday, it
called on traditionalists all over the world and told them, ‘To all Onisese
across the world, as the President of TRWASO, I call on you today to be
involved. From today 25th November, let us offer a kolanut each on daily basis
to our Orisa to seek their intervention by 30th November. (it is never too late
to join the train).’
“This is definitely a declaration of spiritual warfare. We cannot
know their intention, but Allah knows both the open and the hidden. If they get
away with this, they will continue the intimidation till kingdom comes. We
therefore call on Muslim individuals, groups and mosques all over the world to
pray fervently for the protection of Iwo town, Yorubaland and the whole of
Nigeria.
“Beginning from today, Friday, 26th November, 2021, let
us pray for peace and security. Pray for religious harmony and love among our
people. Remember to use Ayat al-Kursiyyu severally. In particular, we
implore you to observe a fast on Monday and to recite surat al-Fiil (lilafi)
at least seven times after subhi prayer on Tuesday, 30th
November, 2021 which is the deadline given by the traditionalists to invade
Iwo, the city of Islam.
“Asalatu groups are advised to use ayudafiu while
Islamic scholars should concentrate on using saifi from the comfort of
their homes on that day. We have assurance that Muslims shall not be disgraced.
We charge members of MURIC in all its state branches North and South throughout
Nigeria to observe the fast on Monday and to engage the services of Islamic
scholars in prayers for the city of Iwo. The city of Islam must not fall. Whoever
wants to blame us should remember that the traditionalists started the
spiritual warfare by publicly calling on their faithfuls to start rituals on
this matter.
“To all traditionalists across the world, we assure you all that we
believe in religious tolerance. Muslims have no right to disturb your worship
just as you have no right to intimidate Muslims. Our prayers are not targeted
at you. We are not at war. Our prayers are targeted only at those who intimidate
us and threaten our city. But we offer them peace if they desist. We therefore
urge Muslims to remain calm and law abiding, but prayerful and watchful.
“We reiterate our message to both the
government of Osun and the state police command. Nigerian Muslims will hold
both of them responsible if there is any breakdown of law and order in Iwo over
this altercations. The traditionalists have repeated their notice to illegally,
unlawfully, illegitimately and unconstitutionally invade a town in Osun State
which falls within their jurisdiction. Both the government and the security
agencies know the preemptive steps to take. It will be dereliction of duty if
they fail to take it. It had better not happen.”
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
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