6th
May, 2024
PRESS
RELEASE:
SHAKALA-SHOKOLO ANTICS:
MURIC TELLS ADELEKE TO STOP DESECRATING ISLAM
The governor of Osun
State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he is the first executive
Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity. However, an
Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has
countered the governor.
In a statement
circulated to the media on Monday, 6th May, 2024 by the group’s
executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC argued that nobody can be a
Muslim and a Christian at the same time. The group insisted that Governor
Adeleke is manifesting symptoms of personality crisis syndrome which often
results in confusion in personal identity. The group also accused the governor
of desecrating Islam with his shakala-shokolo antics.
The full statement
reads:
"The governor of
Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he was the first executive
Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity.
"Adeleke made the
declaration while answering questions at the second edition of the public
enlightenment programme tagged 'Ipade Imole', held in Ilesa on Tuesday, 30th
April, 2024.
"We are nonplussed by this declaration made by Governor
Ademola Adeleke. It is egregious, odious, insidious and odoriferous. Nobody can
be a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. It is either he is
genuinely serious with one and hypocritical with the other, or he is playing
Jekyll and Hyde with God Almighty whereas nobody can deceive God.
“It is
the height of hypocrisy for anyone to make such a claim. The group insisted
that Governor Adeleke is manifesting symptoms of personality
crisis syndrome which often inarise from
confusion in personal identity. Adeleke does not
know who he is and where he belongs. Our governor needs the help of a
psychologist.
"We are concerned
because Adeleke is a public figure and the political leader in Osun state. We
are aware that statements like this are capable of influencing the behaviour of
ordinary Nigerians. The effect is likely to be mass emulation of the governor
resulting in many citizens of Osun making similar declarations.
"If other religions accept this behaviour, Islam never will.
This is because Islam is a religion of high discipline. There is no room for
rubbish in Islam. That is why the Glorious Qur'an says, 'Enter into Islam
totally and categorically' (Qur'an 2:208).
"A true religion
must not be like flashy products where you buy one and get another one free.
Otherwise Adeleke should let Nigerians know which one he is paying for and
which one he is buying free.
"Adeleke is a Yoruba man and he is not unaware of a Yoruba
proverb which says, 'Bi o ba fe je Oshakala ki o je Oshakala, bi o ba si fe je
Oshokolo ki o je Oshokolo, ewo ni Shakala Shokolo?' Meaning: if you want to be
Oshakala, then be Oshakala and if you want to be Oshokolo, feel free to be
Oshokolo, but which one is Shakala Shokolo? The governor’s behaviour
contravenes the Omoluabi culture of the Yoruba people.
"We are aware
that the governor bears both Muslim and Christian names: Nurudeen and Jackson.
There is nothing wrong with that based on present circumstances in the land.
But we cannot accept his claim to be following both faiths. Names are mere tags
but not so with faith. There is something wrong with you if your faith runs
riot. But who did this to Osun State?
"Of course a
governor can 'identify' and 'empathise' with every religious group in his
state. He is the father of all. But he should not go beyond that. He should not
claim to believe in both as a follower. Such a claim is false, baseless and
hypocritical.
"What Adeleke
fails to understand is that MURIC is not saying that a governor must be a
Muslim before the Muslims accept him. All we are asking for is fairness,
justice and equity. A just Christian governor will enjoy the Muslims under him.
It is only Christian rulers who marginalise Muslims and persecute them that we
rise against.
"Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, Bola Ige, etc were Christians who ruled in the South West in the
past. Muslims did not reject them. Why is Adeleke jittery?
"Adeleke made
three unacceptable declarations in his speech. Firstly, he said he would soon
become Alhaji and Prophet. Our position is that he is free to become a
Christian prophet any time but he is going to make a caricature of himself the
day he attempts to become an Alhaji.
"Secondly, he
claimed to be the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam
and Christianity. This is an illusion. Adeleke is living in the world of
self-deceit. He may have been practicing Christianity but he does not practice
Islam and he himself knows it.
"Thirdly, the
governor also said no religion would be neglected in the delivery of dividends
of democracy. He can say that to the marines. Has he been practicing what he is
now preaching? If so, was he not the same governor who appointed 17 Christians
as commissioners but could only find 7 Muslims appointable? Has he not
neglected Muslims?
"We advise the
governor to stop playing hide and seek with his Creator. God is a Merciful
Lord. He listens to all regardless of their creed, race, gender or
colour.
“Adeleke is insulting the collective intelligence of Muslims in
Osun State. Even politicians do not accept those who exhibit divided loyalty.
You are either inside or outside. There is nothing like one leg in, one leg
out. Adeleke should stop desecrating the religion of Islam with his shakala-shokolo
antics.”
#GovernorAdeleke
#ShakalaShokolo
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC).
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