Is this attempt to silence our Muslim rights advocacy? MURIC asks over DSS invitation allegedly at Makinde’s instance
*Vows to see Akintola accompanied when ready
By KEMI KASUMU
The Muslim Rights Concern, Oyo State Chapter, has pledged to accompany Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Director of the organization, any time he wants to honour the invitation sent to him by the Department of State Services (DSS), Ibadan, Oyo State.
The invitation is alleged to be over the organisation’s statement on Muslim students in a public school who were forced to sing Christmas carol last week, the group said in a fresh release jointly signed by Dr Nurudeen Olalekan Ọloso, Chairman, Alhaji Solahudeen Abdul Wasiu (Abu Salim), Secretary, and Ustadh Ibrahim Agunbiade, MURIC Ambassador.
MURIC’s release, which was signed by Professor Akintola and dated December 12, 2022, had accused Governor Seyi Makinde of aiding and abetting the age long oppression of Muslims in Oyo State through Oyo State school authorities.
It cited the example of St Annes schools, Molete, Ibadan, whose principals forced Muslim students and Muslim teachers to join in the singing of Christmas carol.
The rights group condemned the action as extremist, feudalistic and provocative.
The attention of Oyo State MURIC was drawn to the invitation extended to Professor Ishaq Akintola by Oyo State DSS office by-passing the state branch of MURIC.
“Our Director committed no offence, rather Governor Makinde should channel his energy in the fight against those unfairness activities committed under his watch.
“MURIC Oyo State chapter endorses the press statement on what Muslims are going through in Oyo State and we hereby reproduce part of it. ‘Under Seyi Makinde’s watch, Muslim students were herded like sheep to attend the crusade of a German Christian crusader, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda in November 2021. Oyo State public schools were used for the crusade during school hours.
“‘Again under Makinde’s watch, Muslim applicants attending a screening exercise for appointment were made to answer questions on the Bible in August 2020. Under Makinde’s watch, Muslim teachers were forced to attend a screening exercise on Salah day in July 2022. Yet these are schools using public funds and Muslims are the majority among tax-payers in the state’.
“The DSS should extend her invitation to us at Oyo State MURIC, not only Professor Akintola, and we will honour it.
“Prof Akintola is only Director of MURIC but there are 36 state chairmen and Abuja chairman.
“MURIC has come to stop the oppression of the Muslim that started during colonisation.
“MURIC is the voice of oppressed Nigerian Muslims. We will not allow anyone to silence us,” the statement concluded.
