Afenifere Warns MURIC Against Inciting Religious Conflict In South-west

By Ayodele Oni

Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has warned groups and interests against making inflammatory statements or introducing practices that can endanger peaceful coexistence among the residents of Ekiti and other south-west states.

The organisation also called on intelligence agencies, especially the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) to querry the Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola for making comments that can stoke religious conflict in the region.

Afenifere gave the warning on Tuesday in a statement by its Chairman, Ekiti Chapter, Gabriel Alonge following Akintola’s press statement that leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has declared war on Muslims over Mosque Demolition in Aramoko Ekiti.

MURIC and Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria had influenced and  justified the establishment of an independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in the south-west, which triggered stiff opposition from all strata of the region due to its implications for peace and security.

But in its statement, Afenifere described Akintola’s comment as unfounded, unguided and capable of endangering peaceful coexistence among brothers of different religious leanings and stoking the embers of religious conflict in Ekiti State and by extension south-west states.

It said: “We read the press statement of Prof. Ishaq Akintola with grave concerns. We have also dug deeper into the veracity of his claims that Senator Bamidele declared war on Muslims for demolishing a mosque in Aramoko Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area.

“Our findings revealed that Senator Bamidele facilitated the reconstruction of Alara Modern Market in Aramoko Ekiti. We also found out that the market, comprising 60 open shops and 40 lock-up shops, was inaugurated on the 28th March 2025 and handed over to Alara-in-Council and Ekiti West Local Government, the two original owners of the property.

“We found out that Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alfa Raheem Bamigbola offered the opening prayer at the inauguration of the market last year.

“Where did Prof. Akintola get his information? For us, at Afenifere, this is a deliberate attempt to destabilise Ekiti State shortly after we got over ripples that their plan to establish the Shariah Arbitration Panel in some south-west states had triggered.

“It is quite disappointing that Prof. Akintola made such a statement that can cause disaffection, even conflict, among brothers and sisters not only in Aramoko and Ekiti State, but also in the region.

“South-west is the only part of the federation that has enjoyed some level of peace and stability. We are completely averse to any move or statement that can undermine our peace and stability in part of the region.

“In Yorubaland, we are known for tolerance and not any form of prejudice despite religious diversity. We are known for our spirit of accommodation and not suppressing alternative voices.

“We are known for constructive engagement and not toxic attacks on politically exposed persons.

Afenifere, called on the Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services to start profiling every individual making statements that endanger the region’s peaceful coexistence or any group promoting unsecular practices anywhere in the South-west and Nigeria at large.