The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for allegedly being in the habit of scheduling programmes on Fridays and arriving late, thereby depriving Muslims of the opportunity to observe the Friday prayer.
The MURIC Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, on Monday in a statement also complained that Governor Makinde retained his name on Adogba Central Mosque whereas it was not rebuilt with his personal resources.
He, therefore, asked the governor to order the removal of his name from the mosque’s wall.
“Muslims who attended the coronation ceremony of the new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on Friday, 12th July 2024 were unable to go for the Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) due to the late arrival of the state governor, Seyi Makinde.
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“Social media immediately went agog with insinuations that it was not the first time the governor would arrive late for programmes scheduled for Fridays.
“MURIC is worried that such an attitude is symptomatic of a lack of decorum for matters affecting Muslims in the state. We can cite the example of Adogba Central Mosque at Iwo Road, Ibadan, which was demolished despite pleas from Islamic organizations and Muslim leaders.
“Governor Makinde went ahead to demolish the mosque but he promised to rebuild it. Although it was rebuilt but the governor inscribed his name boldly at the entrance. MURIC protested at the time and the government promised to remove the governor’s name.
“But only the name at the entrance was removed. A similar inscription is still on the wall of the mosque till today and it is visible from the road,” Akintola said.
He said that the governor’s actions are acts of impunity.
“It becomes another thing when the governor’s name is placed on a big banner or signpost against the wall of the mosque. A place of worship is not the appropriate place to display wealth, power or claim ownership of. But can Makinde provide proof that he single handedly funded the mosque building? Only then can he ostentatiously brandish his name there,” he said.
Akintola said it is also lack of respect for Muslims to keep them sitting at a programme when they should be in the mosque, particularly on a Friday.
“Can Seyi Makinde fix these programmes on Sundays? Can he keep bishops and pastors waiting at the venue of a programme on a Sunday morning?
“Here is one more reason for our agitation for the declaration of Friday as a work-free day in Nigeria. The absence of a work-free Friday in the country is a sign-post of inequality, imbalance and lopsidedness. Nigeria’s democracy is a fraud if Muslims are not given the same things Christians are given.
“However, it is sacrilegious to name the mosque after him, being a non-Muslim and we hope the committee running the mosque is fully aware of the eschatological implications of all these. We are all accountable to Allah for actions taken by us in this world in the Hereafter,” Akintola said.
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