MURIC Condemns Governors that Allowed Large Gathering During Eid Prayers

The Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Ishaq Akintola, , has said that governors who allowed congregational Eid prayers have committed impeachable offences.

It will be recalled that Congregational prayers On Sunday held in different states.

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.

Leading states which flouted the Presidential guidelines was Kano, which currently has the second highest number of active COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the country, with Eid prayers in the state featuring large gatherings of people.

Further stating that the actions of the Governors was contrary to the directives of 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.