*Say Muslim-Muslim ticket not a concern but capacity of candidate
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The presidential project of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, gained more grounds as Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Oodua People’s Congress-Reformed (OPC-R) lent their support, thanking the Northern Governors who made the ticket possible and urging South Westerners to whom the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ticket has been zoned to rally round and make the candidate succeed.
They spoke during a joint press conference on 2023 presidential election held at the OPC-R Secretariat, Isheri, Lagos State, on Tuesday December 20, 2022, appealing to members of Yoruba race to compliment the Northern leaders, who have resolved that power should shift to the South in the name of unity.
Speaking in his address, Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said: “It is our belief that the Yoruba has every reason to support their kinsman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being the most eminently qualified among all the contestants.”
He also submitted that, “all issues of Yoruba separatist agitation will be addressed and resolved if a Yoruba man emerges as president come 2023. We have no doubt that those complaining of marginalisation of Yorubaland are most likely to give a son of the soil listening ears once Tinubu becomes president.
“It is in this regard that we are calling on the Yoruba to give peace and unity a chance by rallying behind their son, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Akintola said.
The Professor of Islamic studies, who said the Muslim Rights Concern is a multi-ethnic organisation ready to work hand in hand with all tribes in the country, affirmed that the group will never work against any tribe.
“The allegation leveled against MURIC in certain quarters particularly in publications of Alaroye newspaper that MURIC is an enemy of the Yoruba people is false and this joint press conference with OPC-Reformed is a clear evidence that MURIC is a friend of the Yoruba people, not an enemy.
“It is the demand of MURIC for the fundamental human rights of Muslims in Yorubaland that some people mischievously interprete as anti-Yoruba stand.This is wrong and misleading,” he said.
On the need to integrate OPC into the Amotekun Corp, the MURIC director wondered that OPC that boldly confronted and subdued armed criminals thereby saving the South West from the constant attacks of armed robbers particularly between 1985 – 2005, would not be considered when recruitment for Amotekun Corp was being done.
“They were not paid for their services and many members of the OPC died while confronting hoodlums.
“Unfortunately the various governments of the South West forgot the OPC when they established an official security outfit called Amotekun. MURIC declares that this is unfair.
“We call on governments in the South West to review their recruitment method into Amotekun with a view to integrating original OPC members from different factions (Fasehun, Gani Adams and OPC-Reformed under Chief Francis Oludare Adesope),” he said, adding that doing this will strengthen the security of Yoruba Land even as he asked that the governments should de-emphasise educational qualification in the new recruitment process as, according to him, it is not in certificate but physical strength and commitment.
President Worldwide of the OPC-Reformed, Comrade Dare Adesope, highlighted issues of human rights violation, politics and election, OPC-Reformed and MURIC collaboration as well as insecurity in his own press conference address.
Adesope complained that rule of law not being adhered, meaning that some people in the society are above the law, is reason the right of the poor citizens is being trampled upon, adding by urging strict adherence to court rulings and that “it should start with our government”.
The OPC-Reformed leader, who announced a planned massive rally across South West to sensitise electorates on the need to end gullibility, was confident about resolve of decision of political deciders in the country to shift power to the South but urged Southerners themselves not to be reason for any failure.
He said, “we need to ensure that the best candidate in this region emerge as the winner of the presidential election.”
To achieve this he said, “It is a clear vision that south West needs to align to produce a president, we must all rise to support a credible candidate, a need to mobilise, form a formidable force to protect our candidate.
“This is not a religious gathering but a call to work together as a team (Together Everyone Achieve More (TEAM)) to achieve common goal.
Noting that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu being the front runner in the presidential race is reason for the attacks on his personality and all the sponsored bloggers are let loose against him, Comrade Adesope said his group and Yoruba people will not look on while he is being attacked.
He advised political contenders to make their campaign issues based and tell Nigerians what they will do if elected instead of throwing stones at opposition. He called on Yoruba people to “erase the curse of Alaafin Aole, we must work on our unity to achieve our goal.
To Yoruba Nation agitators the OPC-Reformed leader said, “we are all in this together but let us use this resent situation as soft landing. We shall all get there only if we apply maturity”.
On collaboration with MURIC he said both groups have been working together for decades and that, with the joint press conference held, people’s perception of Muslim Rights Concern and Oodua People’s Congress-Reformed would begin to change.
“One of the reasons for this joint press conference is to let people know that OPC(R)is not a secret cult and it comprises all religious groups. We have Christians, Muslims, traditionalists and free thinkers in our organisation and this makes us closer to God than any other group or individuals,” he said
He added, “Also, we all know what MURIC stands for and at this juncture, I make bold to say that we shall continue to work with MURIC in achieving the desired change we need in our country”.
The joint press conference ended on the note of questions and answers during which more clarifications were made on the relationship between the MURIC and OPC-Reformed and why both groups rooted for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president come 2023.
