Islamic human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern, has hailed the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, for his intervention in the face-off between the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in the state and the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi.
MURIC spoke on the Governor’s intervention in a statement issued on Saturday by its Founder, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.
It will be recalled that the leader of the TRWASO, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, called off the group’s planned invasion of Iwo in Osun State.
The group was demanding the removal of Oba Akanbi for what it called derogatory remarks about its deities.
According to the group, the call off was occasioned by the intervention of Oyetola.
In the statement on Saturday, MURIC commended Governor Oyetola, Osun State Police Command and Department of State Services in Osun State for nipping in the bud the planned invasion.
It said: “We commend the state governor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, the State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS), Osun State, for nipping the planned invasion in the bud. The traditionalists would have set an ugly precedent in the annals of Yoruba history. This prompt action shows beyond any reasonable doubt that the Oyetola administration is working and it is conscious of its responsibilities.
“For the avoidance of doubts, we will like to place it on record that MURIC respects the right of others to worship what they like. As a human rights group, we have never attempted to stop Christians or traditionalists from their ways of life. Anyone who has evidence to the contrary should produce it now.
“But at the same time, we will not stand akimbo while people of other religions attempt to intimidate Muslims by encroaching on their freedom to worship and liberty to ‘manifest’. As law abiding citizens and apostles of dialogue, we will always use every legitimate means at our disposal to check the excesses of such people.
“We call for peaceful coexistence in Yorubaland in particular and Nigeria in general. No part of Nigeria can develop in an atmosphere of intolerance, rancour and distrust. Let us learn to live and let live. But most especially, let us respect the rule of law at all times. We must desist from using threat, blackmail or outright violence to settle our differences.”