26th August, 2019
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC CONDEMNS WIKE FOR DEMOLISHING
MOSQUE
Trans-Amadi
Central Mosque in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was on Tuesday 20th
August, 2019 demolished by the Rivers State government. The demolition exercise has however been denounced
by the Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
According to MURIC, the demolition is the most odious and insidious attack on an Islamic landmark
in that part of the country in recent times. This was made known to the media in
a statement issued by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on
Monday, 26th August, 2019.
MURIC said, “This
demolition exercise is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is an
exhibition of gross, undiluted Islamophobia and the most odious and insidious
attack on an Islamic landmark in that part of the country in recent times. It
is another evidence showing that established thugs have seized the reins of
power in certain government houses in Nigeria.
“Both the Chief Imam of Trans-Amadi Central Mosque, Alhaji
Haroon Muhammed and the Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Sadiq have provided evidence
proving that due process was followed in purchasing the land. Yet the state
government has been harassing the mosque management for years. The mosque has
been demolished twice in the past.
“The Muslims had no option than to approach the court. Two cases were instituted at the State High court.
One was to restrain the government from taking over the land and the other was
for compensation for the loss incurred by the Muslims for the damages done to
their properties (the building that was demolished and the properties in the
mosque damaged as a result of the demolition).
“The Muslims won both cases. The court judgement in favour of the Muslims was given on 2nd
November, 2017. Though the government
appealed against the second case which is about compensation for damages and
the case is still ongoing at the Appeal Court, it did not appeal the one
restraining it from taking over the land. The Muslims of Rivers State are
therefore the bona fide owners of that land.
“It proves beyond any
reasonable doubt that the demolition of Tuesday 20th August 2019 was
done in contempt of court. A mosque is demolished while there is a case on it
at an appellate court. The level of impunity manifested by Governor Nyesom Wike
has confirmed the fear expressed by Lord Acton in his 1887 letter addressed to
Bishop Mandell Creighton that ‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts
absolutely’.
“Or how do we explain a
situation whereby a state governor ignores all legal process and proceeds to
send thugs and fake mobile policemen to destroy a mosque? It is interesting to
note that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of that area challenged the task
force on the
ground that he was not aware of any demolition order.
“They replied that the order was from the State House but they
had to withdraw because they could not produce a written order when the DPO
requested for it. This happened twice: 29th July and 16th
August, 2019 before they eventually came for the demolition on 20th
August when they returned
yesterday with more touts, fake mobile policemen and bulldozers.
“This demolition was executed without any formal
notice despite the fact that the mosque has an
approved building plan. The only thing that was heard was that the papers had
not been revalidated whereas the mosque management made several moves to
revalidate ownership. They even paid a visit to the permanent secretary to
complain when officials in the Ministry of Lands and Housing refused to attend
to them.
“This illegal demolition has deprived more than 10,000
worshippers of a place of worship. Members of the armed forces, oil company
workers and other residents who are Muslims attend the mosque. This exercise
smarks of religious fanaticism, intolerance and administrative impunity.
“The witch cried yesterday and the
child died today. Do we still need to waste time on an autopsy? Contrary to
Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which
says, ‘The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any
religion as State religion’ Wike has declared on three different occassions
that Rivers State is a Christian State and no one has deemed it fit to caution
him, not the state assembly, nor the Senate.
“Wike
does not want any mosque in the state. Neither does he want to see any Muslim
around him. Paradoxically, Rivers State citizens are everywhere in the country,
particularly in Muslim-controlled parts of Northern Nigeria as well as
Muslim-majority parts of the South West. Wike’s ability for independent and
logical reasoning is highly in doubt.
“We alert Nigerians to
the characteristics of Wike’s administration, namely: wikedisation of religion, acrobatic religiousity,
gymnastic impunity, political violence and administrative rascality. Wike has
no respect for any type of decorum. He is a threat to peaceful coexistence
anywhere in this country.
“This man must never be allowed to go beyond Rivers State in his
political career. Neither should any president give him a federal appointment.
Nigerian Muslims will definitely rise against him if he ever aspires for a
federal position anytime in the future or if any presidential candidate picks
him as his running mate. Wike is bad news. Muslims are not safe in his hands.
He is not capable of rational thinking. Neither can he ever dispense justice
with fairness.
“To the Muslims of Rivers
State, we send to you this strong message of solidarity. ‘Believers are all
brothers’ (Qur’an 49:10 Inamal muminuun ikhwah). We assure you that you are not
alone. We feel the heat as you pray under the burning sun. We share the cold
and wetness when you pray in the rain. The Fir‘awn of Rivers State cannot do
worse to you than Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl did to the early Muslims. How did the
duo end up? What was the end of Fir‘awn the oppressor? We therefore charge
Muslims in Rivers State to remain steadfast in faith and in resolution.
“While we caution against taking the law into their hands, we
warn that they must not kowtow to Wike’s poohpooh. They must resolutely pursue
the legal angle to a logical conclusion. We also advise that they continue to
observe their weekly Jumu’ah service on the ruins of the multi-million naira
mosque to the chagrin of Wike and his agents of destruction. Afterall, Wike
cannot have the luxury of a third term. His days are numbered but every term is
Allah’s term. He reigns forever.
“The National Assembly (NASS) is advised to enact a law
compelling any Nigerian who aspires to a political post to undergo mental
examination. This will save the country from the embarrassment of irrational and
Bohemian behavior on the part of holders of political offices.
“In
conclusion, we appeal to the NASS to call Wike to order. His actions are
capable of setting Nigeria on fire. The declaration of Rivers State as a
Christian state constitutes a major infringement on Section 10 of the Nigerian constitution
which he swore to defend. Neither should the NASS close its eyes to the war
being waged by Wike against Muslims in the state.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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