17th March, 2025
PRESS RELEASE:
THOSE WHO
SABOTAGED EL-RUFAI UNDERMINED OUR MISSION TO LIBERATE YORUBA MUSLIMS – MURIC
An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC), has revealed that it solicited for the help of the
former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to mobilise the North towards
the realization of the presidential ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group alleged that those who sabotaged the
attempt to make Mallam Nasir El-Rufai a minister in the present administration
undermined MURIC’s mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims from economic impoverishment,
social ostracization and political marginalization. It also called on President
Tinubu to create an enabling environment for constructive dialogue between him
and the former governor.
The statement reads:
“Recent events on the political front has
compelled us to speak up once again on the involvement of the former governor
of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the political campaigns that
preceded the 2023 presidential election.
“We affirm
that the Executive Director of MURIC was part of a team of Islamic scholars who
visited the former governor and solicited for his help to mobilise the North towards
the realization of the presidential ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We
know the North listens to El-Rufai. Therefore, we decided to reach out to that
strategically important region through him.
“We were also convinced, at the time, that South
West Muslims needed a Yoruba Muslim as president in their struggle against the
persecution of the Yoruba Muslim majority by an elitist Christian minority who took
control of the paraphernalia of authority in all sectors in the region from the
colonial masters.
“Although
our first objective was realized as a Yoruba Muslim, President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, won the election, those who sabotaged the attempt to make Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai a minister in the present administration undermined MURIC’s mission to
liberate Yoruba Muslims.
“These powerful forces have so far made it
impossible to emancipate Yoruba Muslims from educational backwardness, economic
impoverishment, social ostracization and political marginalization.
“While the latter (i.e. political marginalization)
holds the key to the rest, it is sad that it is even worse in the present
dispensation as the same elements who sabotaged the attempt to make El-Rufai a
minister, ensured that the names of true and practicing Yoruba Muslims do not
get to President Tinubu for political appointments.
“As a result
of this, it is the names of Yoruba Muslims who have converted to Christianity (either
willingly or unwillingly) but who retained their Muslim names in their official
documents that are allowed to reach the president. Only two or three real Yoruba
Muslims have succeeded in getting political appointments.
“Yoruba Christians are stealing the identities of
Yoruba Muslims, usurping the roles of Muslims and swapping slots meant for
Muslims. It is fraudulent but religious impersonation has always been the stock
in trade of those who believe in going all out to use fair or foul means to
achieve their objectives. The end justifies the means. Niccolo Machiavelli could
not have done better.
“As matters stand today, most Islamic
organisations in Yorubaland (including MURIC) have no access, direct or
otherwise, to the presidency. Neither do we have any minister with whom we have
established rapport. We have been shut out.
“For mobilizing the whole North to support the
incumbent, for going to court to challenge the emefialisation of the naira (which
was aimed at sabotaging the emergence of Tinubu as president), efforts should
be made to close the gap between El-Rufai and the president.
“We therefore
call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create an enabling environment for constructive
dialogue between him and the former governor. It is crystal clear that a caucus
is bent on edging out El-Rufai and the widening gulf between the two is being
encouraged by the same people.
“Finally, Mr. President is advised to review the methodology
for identifying true Muslims with the right qualifications to fit into the
president’s vision. Cross-checking with the right quarters will go a long way
in stemming the incident of identity stealing and religious impersonation.”
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#BridgeTheGap
#StopStealingMuslimIdentity
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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