The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded unreserved apology from Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group, for comparing Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), to Prophet Muhammad.
Afenifere had compared Igboho’s current travail in Benin Republic to that of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah.
In a press release issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said Afenifere’s statement was not only sacrilegious but outrageous and audacious, and advised Afenifere to compare Igboho to any of the Yoruba heroes, if they must idolise him.
The statement reads: “Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has compared Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a. Igboho, to Prophet Muhammad. This is totally unacceptable. It is not only sacrilegious but outrageous and audacious.
“Afenifere has manifested categorical desertification of discernibility coupled with an alarming height of tramadolised hero-worshipping. It is provocative, preposterous, repugnant and nauseating.”
Akintola said the circumstances surrounding the migration of Prophet Muhammad in 622 C.E. to Madinah are different from those that sent Igboho to Benin Republic in July 2021.
“Muhammad was invited to Madinah by the Madinese, whereas Igboho was not invited by the people of Cotonou. Muhammad was a prophet of God; Igboho is not. Muhammad’s constituency is the whole world, while Igboho’s activities are restricted to South Western Nigeria.
“It was therefore an exercise in excessive exaggeration for Afenifere to have compared Igboho to a universal prophet whose followers in their billions spread across all the continents and countries of the world.
“This, to say the least, is an attempt to diminish the immense popularity of Prophet Muhammad, whittle down the influence of Islam on the world as a whole and trivialise the essence of the Abrahamic faiths.
“We remind the supporters and fans of Igboho to be wary of the antics of Afenifere. They should note that a thick fog of mystery still covers the travails of the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Moshood Kashimowo Abiola.
“We are not sure that the hands of Afenifere are clean in both matters of these great sons of Oduduwa. They should not allow the same Afenifere to goad Igboho into oblivion,” he added.
Akintola said MURIC has nothing against Igboho, but that its problem is Afenifere.
“What does Afenifere want to turn Igboho to? Another prophet? Afenifere’s goal is to exert influence on Igboho and to gain total control of him. Afenifere should leave Igboho alone. It should stop playing politics with the young man’s life.
“If Afenifere is so desperate to compare Igboho to a great personality, the Yoruba socio-cultural group should pick any of the heroes of the Yoruba people. Or is Afenifere no longer proud of Yoruba heroes? We know that the Yoruba people parade a host of great men and women. Why not compare him to one of them? Why raise this young man to the clouds without any pillar to support his feet?” he asked.
Akintola said he was aware that Sahara Reporters, the media house which published Afenifere’s blasphemous statement, had apologised.
“We take its apology in good faith. Sahara Reporters has shown respect for the sensibilities of Nigerian Muslims. It now behoves Afenifere to follow the footsteps of the media house by tendering its own apology.
“We will soon know whether or not Afenifere has any scintilla of respect for Yoruba Muslims, nay, Nigerian Muslims,” he said.
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