The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cried out to the Lagos State
government (LASG) in particular and other state governments in Yorubaland (Ogun,
Oyo, Osun and Ekiti) to avert the looming religious crisis in the sub-region.
According to the human rights organization, traditional worshippers are set to
observe tomorrow, Monday 20th August, 2018 as Isheshe Day.
The traditionalists have, therefore, declared a general curfew to
restrict the movements of people. The organization foresees trouble as the
curfew declared for Isheshe Day is most likely to cause serious friction
because Muslims throughout the federation will be marking Id al-Kabiir on
Tuesday, 21st August, 2018 and millions of Muslims are already moving from one
part of the country to the other.
In a press statement issued on Sunday evening, the director of MURIC,
Ishaq Akintola, described the curfew imposed by Oro worshipers as illegal,
unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional. It is calculated to cause a breach
of the peace. Oro worshipers are deliberately looking for trouble.
“Chapter 4 Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria (as amended) says, ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move
freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of
Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit
therefrom.’
“Besides, only the state government on the advice of the state commissioner
of police can impose curfew on a town. Even then, such imposition must be based
on adverse security report.
“Traditionalists are taking the law into their hands. They have become
another government on their own. This is unacceptable. Traditionalists have
frequently usurped this power without being challenged. It is very unfortunate
that state governments in the region lack the political will to enforce the
law. They are afraid of the traditionalists. Worse still, the police and other
law enforcement agents appear to be complicit as they adopt a lackadaisical
attitude towards the excesses of traditional worshipers.
“It is not only cowardly but hypocritical to look the other way when one
lawless group takes actions that are indubitably ultra vires while the same
governments threaten hell and brimstone when other groups attempt to claim
their Allah-given fundamental rights. Are we to assume that the only language
which our state governments understand is force?
“We assert the right of Muslims to freely move around anywhere in this
country. Tuesday 21st August, 2018 is Id al-Kabiir day and the Federal
Government (FG) has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as holidays. Nobody has the
right or the power to take those days from us. Neither does anybody have the
right to make it impossible for Muslims heading towards their various towns to
reach their various destinations.
“For the avoidance of doubts, MURIC is not averse to the declaration of
a day for traditionalists. We made this clear in our statement issued on 10th
May, 2018. We believe in equal rights. What we oppose is a situation whereby
one religious group lords it over another. Traditionalists must respect the
law.
“Traditional worshipers need to be told that they have limits.
Christians and Muslims have never restricted the movements of adherents of
other faiths. So why must traditionalists always compel others to remain
indoors whenever they want to worship? Why must God be worshiped in secret?
Their curfews have affected church and mosque goers in the past. It has also
affected candidates writing critical examinations like WAEC and that means
their curfews are counter-productive. This must not be allowed to continue.
“We therefore call on the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti
states to call traditional worshipers to order. The traditional rulers of all
Yoruba towns can be easily reached. They will pass the message to the leaders
of traditional worshipers. Muslims will not surrender their Allah-given
fundamental rights at this crucial moment.
“As we draw the curtain, we charge law enforcement agents in the region
to perform their duties. Muslims traveling during this period need protection.
Traditionalists must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order if
any Muslim is attacked by those who want to illegally restrict his or her
movement. We appeal to traditional rulers in Yorubaland to prevail on leaders
of traditional worshippers to immediately lift the illegal curfew in the
interest of peace, law and order”.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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