By Akinwale Kasali
The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, AYDM, has warned an Islamic Body, Muslims Rights Concern, MURIC, and its leader, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, not to bring religious bigotry into politics.
AYDM, a coalition of over 130 Civil Society and Self Determination Groups made this assertion in response to MURIC’s demands that only Muslims should emerge as Governors in Osun, Oyo, Lagos and Ogun State.
Berating Akintola and his Group, AYDM said that Yoruba voters are liberal minded and far more intelligent than religious bigots, whose main mission is to divide the South West along fractured faithlines.
In a statement by the Group, it stated that Akintola is a divisive, rash and riotous character who is determined to leave a legacy of blood, pain and anguish in Yorubaland.
It added that MURIC forgot that an average Yoruba person is far more intelligent than it.
In the statement signed by AYDM, General Secretary, Popoola Ajay and Secretary for Mobilisation, Suleiman Sanusi, AYDM said Akintola is working for enemies of Yoruba Nation and that his philosophy appears to be fueled by a passion for chaos and disorder.
“We are shocked by what looked like a teleguided statement coming from one Akintola asking Yoruba Muslims to vote for only Muslim Governors in Osun, Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States.
“This is a highly irresponsible statement coming from an old man with a very little mind and a warped sense of reasoning”, AYDM said.
The coalition said Akintola usually behaves as if he never attended any school “and as if his DNA has nothing to do with Yoruba.”
The group said if Akintola was intelligent he would have known that asking voters to vote only for Muslim candidates in those states is an indirect call for non Muslim voters to vote against Muslim candidates.
The group said what would happen if Christains and Traditional worshipers also aks their members to vote for candidates of their faith in Yorubaland?
The AYDM said Akintola has tried in vain to polarise Yoruba land with his volatile and senseless rhetoric.
“Akintola does not speak or write like someone who has primary education.He speaks like a stark illetarate with no sense of history. He is on a veageance mission against Muslims, traditional worshipers and Christians in Yorubaland.
The group asked Akintola to learn from NASFAT, Ansarudeen and other responsible Muslim groups in Yorubaland who for decades have contributed to the development of Yoruba people without consideration for faith.
It added that Akintola lacks morals and behaves like someone with mental and personality disorder who should be reminded in an asylum.
“Muslims, Christians and Traditional worshipers in Yorubaland are one family. They have shared history, common ancestry and the same destiny aimed at building a strong, peaceful and prosperous Yoruba Nation.”
The group said at a time, both Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos were Muslims, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Jafojo, nothing happened, and the Christias took it in good faith.
It also added that presently, President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim was succeeded by another Muslim, Mr Babatunde Fashola in Lagos State and nothing happened.
“The Governor of Osun State in 1999, Chief Bisi Akande was a Muslim and his succesor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola was removed, and another Muslim in person of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola assumed office. He however handed over power to another Muslim, Gboyega Oyetola.
“In Kwara State, a Yoruba State, no Christian has ruled the state since 1999. Whereas Yoruba Muslims, Christians and Traditional worshipers all voted for the late Chief M.K.O Abiola and also in 2023, they all voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu even with a Muslim-Muslim ticket”.
AYDM described Akintola as a violent character who is driven by terror, a disgrace to intellectual and rational thinking.
AYDM urged Akintola to learn from what is going on in the Middle East where Muslim and Christian Nations unite with Israel to fight a fellow Muslim country of Iran which confirms that what matters most in local and international political economy is not religion but permanent economic interests.
“Akintola behaves like a despot. He has been the supreme leader of MURIC for decades. He has no Secretary, no treasurer and no deputy. His organisation had never in almost half a century conduct any election. He is the life leader of MURIC. How can a dictator speak on democratic tradition and norms?.”
The coalition said Akintola had never for once condemned the mass killings of Yoruba Muslims and Christians by terrorists while he has been irresponsibly silent on the killings of Yoruba traditional rulers, the rape, murder and kidnap of both Yoruba Muslims and Christians across the country by terrorists.
AYDM said, “He is quick to claim Muslim persecution in Yorubaland but silent on the attempts to overthrow President Tinubu by some Muslim officers from the North, while he was mute when ovet 160 Yoruba Muslims and Christians were killed in Kwara State,” the AYDM said.
It also added that Akintola is using Islamic extremism for base extortion for personal gains by promoting and inciting violence.
The AYDM urged the security agencies to investigate Akintola and find out his real sponsors and to establish his possible link with terrorism.
