Ishaq Akintola, director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
says governors who allowed congregational Eid prayers committed impeachable
offences.
On Sunday, congregational prayers held in different states
while some religious faithful openly flouted guidelines issued by the
presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 such as physical distancing and
compulsory use of face masks in public places.
For instance, in Kano, which currently has the second
highest number of active COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the country, Eid
prayers featured large gatherings of people.
In a statement, Akintola said the actions of the governors
ran contrary to directives by the federal government, Jama’atu Nasril Islam
(JNI) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
He asked lawmakers of the states to “do the needful as the
governors committed impeachable offences”.
“It is a shame that governors can play to the gallery even
when it has to do with human life. This is not Islam. It is articulated
religiousity,” Akintola said.
“There must be consequences when people in positions of
authority gamble with the lives of their citizens. This singular action has put
the whole country in danger and we only have to wait for the next two weeks as
the virus incubates for us to know the impact of the governors’ intransigence.
“This is how not to worship Allah. Neither is it about the
right to celebrate a festival. MURIC as a human rights body will not defend the
indefensible. Islam is a religion of justice. Therefore we will not bend the
rules or change the goal post after the game has already started just because
Muslim governors are involved this time around.
“The fact that we vowed to promote Allah-given fundamental
human rights of Muslims does not mean that we would look away when Muslims do
the wrong thing. Afterall we were all here when Christians marked Easter
without fanfare, pomp and pageantry. So why can’t we as Muslims control
ourselves?
“We have not seen the end of this incident if we have
conscious lawmakers in the state assemblies. Any lawmaker worth his salt will
know that the action of the erring governors stand in contra-distinction to the
provisions of Article 14 Section 2(b) of the1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria which stipulates that the security and welfare of the
people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“In essence, the governors have committed impeachable
offences. We therefore call on the state legislators to do the needful. We do
not want governors who do not care about human life. The choice before the
governors is this: apologise publicly or resign and pack out of government
house, otherwise your impeachment is just around the corner.”
He apologised to Nigerians “on behalf of the Muslim
community”.
Akintola also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to speak
against the act which he described as an embarrassment.
“Every Nigerian Muslim must take responsibility for this.
These recalcitrant governors have embarrassed Islamdom. We must admit our wrong
particularly because what we did is capable of bringing untold hardship upon
the whole country. The next two weeks will tell. But to start with, we must
show remorse and apologise to fellow Nigerians for exposing the country to
danger,” he said.
“It is on this note that we of the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC) tender unreserved apology, first to President Muhammadu Buhari, the
Federal Government and all law-abiding citizens in the country. If we have
always been quick to confront those who maltreat Muslims, we must not be silent
when the Muslims themselves wrongly defy the rest of Nigerians and embark on
actions capable of causing mass death among innocent Nigerians.
“We must speak truth to power because truth is sacrosanct.
The governors simply went on a show of shame. It is disgraceful. It is a huge
blunder. When did Nigerian Muslims become more Muslim than their Makkan
counterparts? Why must we assemble for Id prayer in Nigeria when Muslims in all
Arab countries prayed at home? Muslims in Senegal, Gambia, Ghana and other West
African countries prayed at home.
“President Muhammadu Buhari must not allow these erring
governors to go scot free. They must be sanctioned. FG must speak up. The
action of these recalcitrant governors must be condemned in strong terms.
Thereafter, Mr. President must design suitable punishments that will touch only
the office and personality of the governors without necessarily affecting the gullible
and misled citizens in the state. Those who fail to take responsibility have no
cassu belli for occupying the government house.”
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