THE Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has called on politicians to always exercise restraint and draw a line between religion and politicking.
MUSWEN made this call against the backdrop of the Eid al-Adha Day clash at the Osogbo Central Praying Ground involving aides of the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke and supporters of the immediate past senator for Osun Central district, Ajibola Bashiru.
In a statement in Ibadan signed by MUSWEN Executive Secretary, Professor Muslih Yahya, the President of the organisation, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, urged the parties to sheathe their swords and work together for the benefit of the citizens and the Muslim Ummah in particular, especially now that electioneering is not on the horizon.
Alhaji Oladejo described the incident as “a regrettable attempt to import dirty politicking into a sacred religious arena.”
He lamented that the clash between the aides of Governor Adeleke and supporters of Bashiru over the seating arrangement at the praying ground nearly disrupted the two-rakaat Eid prayers.
The MUSWEN leader wondered how a matter that could have been amicably settled by the two parties was allowed to degenerate into a chaos on a sacred day meant for the glorification of Allah for His favours and mercies on mankind.
He pointed out that the incident amplified the “regrettable abyss into which political intolerance has thrown the country” and polarised “even Muslims who are supposed to always uphold the mantra of universal brotherhood of mankind, as enjoined by Almighty Allah and exemplified by His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad.”
Oladejo commended Osogbo Muslim leaders present at the Eid ground, especially the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis ‘Tunde Badmus, for intervening and preventing the incident from escalating.
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