A Youth Organization under the aegis of Joint Youth For Progressive Alliance, JYPA, an umbrella Body of over 25 Youth Groups across the Country has cautioned the Joint Muslims Forum, JMF, an umbrella Body of over 30 Muslim Groups that includes; Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Sheikh AbdulRahman Adangba and 27 others to stop fanning the ember of hatred and religious bigotry in Lagos State, the commercial hub of the country.
The Group said it was necessary to call the JMF to order over its alleged one- sidedness of the Commissioners-list submitted by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu to the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a Press Release made available to newsmen signed by the President of the Group, Muyideen Olayinka and its Executive Secretary, Michael Akinwale, the Group said it frowns at the International Press Conference held by the JMF last week where it alleged that the Muslim Community rejected the Commissioners list. The Community complained that the list has eight Muslims as against 31 Christians on the list of 39 men and women. It said the list shows oppression, pathological hatred, callousness, Insensitivity, and unfairness.
JYPA said the complaint shows that the JMF lacks a sense of history and plotting to cause unnecessary crisis across religious lines which will plunge the State into crisis.
It stated that when the All Progressives Congress, APC, gave Nigerians a Muslim-Muslim Presidential Ticket, the Christians embraced it which metamorphosed in the success of the Party which ushered in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima into office. The Group queried JMF if it would have accepted it had APC flown a Christian-Christian ticket ?
The Group added that at the Lagos State House of Assembly, there are 24 Muslim Lawmakers as against the Christians, who have 14 Members, and at no time have they complained of marginalization.
“It is just so pathetic that this is coming at a time when we believe that the growth, development and progression of the State should be our priority In attaining the Mega City of our dreams, so religious fanatics and charlatans will come up and be fanning the ember of hatred and discord across religious line.
“Will these set of unscrupulous and backward thinking people accept Christian/ Christian tickets in Lagos? If a discreet investigation is conducted, you will find out that these elements behind this subversive write up are not true Lagosians, they are just here to cause chaos and they flee to their State which is not as prosperous as the center of excellence”.
The Group furthermore stressed that in its investigation at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Lagos State, the Muslims are the one benefiting immensely in terms of pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Saudi Arabia.
It added that it was shocking to know that the Christians were not getting one-third of the budget of what the Muslims get for Pilgrimage every year.
“It May interest the JMF that Governor Sanwo Olu’s Personal Assistant and Personal Driver are Muslims, and he allows them to observe their Prayers as at when due. It is however disturbing that this insensitive Group called JMF will come up with such accusations and just want to create unnecessary issues when the need does not arise”.
The Group pleaded with Lagosians to reject and neglect the JMF as they are just a clog in the wheel of advancement, growth and prosperity of the State.
“This JMF means no well for the State. The Peace, development, prosperity, growth and advancement of the State should be the priority of all, rather, some set of unscrupulous elements who hide under religious line to cause unrest, chaos and hatred among the people for their own selfish interest should not be accepted and tolerated, rather, they should disgraced and silenced.
“What positive impact has the JMF made in the growth and development of the State? These are questions begging for answers. They just believe in inciting people negatively to actualized their selfish desire. We say NO to charlatans and haters of peace and prosperity of Lagos State”, the Group said.
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