By Iyiola Olalere
Flowerbudnews: The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of being in the habit of scheduling programmes on Fridays and arriving late, thereby depriving Muslims of the opportunity to observe Friday prayer.
The group also alleged that Makinde retained his name on Adogba Central Mosque whereas it was not rebuilt with his personal money.
It therefore, asked the governor to order the removal of his name from the mosque’s wall.
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The allegations were contained in a press statement issued by the Founder and Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Monday.
The full statement reads:
“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.
“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 (https://independent.ng/remove-your-name-from-our-mosque-muric-tells-makinde/). 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.
“These are acts of impunity. It is executive dare-devilness to take actions knowing fully well that ordinary citizens could be reprimanded for them if they did the same things. It is right for the governor’s name to be engraved on the wall as the official who declared the mosque open. But then the size cannot be more than what is called ‘2 X 2’.
“It becomes another thing when the governor’s name is placed on a big banner or sign post 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.
“In the same vein, it is 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.
“Meanwhile we urge Governor Seyi Makinde to avoid fixing important meetings and programmes on Fridays unless such meetings or programmes do not involve Muslims at all. Muslims are always uncomfortable at such programmes. His name should also be totally removed from Adogba Mosque unless the project was personally funded by him.
“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.” (Flowerbudnews)
