Against the backdrop of a viral video circulating in the social media space that a so-called Islamic cleric has called for killing of the Wife of the President – Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu because she is a Christian, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has condemned in totality the provocative vituperations of the cleric describing him as one of the bad elements in the Nigerian Society and not a true Scholar of Islam.
In a strongly-worded Press Statement issued today by the National Coordinator of the Group Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, the Group called on the Security Agencies in the Country to immediately fish the Islamic cleric out within the next 24 hours, and get him arrested and prosecuted without further delay.
Alhaji Ibrahim noted with serious concern that at this trying period of Nation, some irresponsible, incorrigible and unpatriotic elements must not be allowed to use religion to cause chaos in Nigeria
Reflecting on the teaching of Islam as regard Jews and Christians, the Group stated categorically that the Holy Qur’an revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SallaLlaahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) described them Ahlul-Kitab meaning ‘The People of the Book’ and Muslims are enjoined to live with them in peace and tranquility.
According to the Group, ‘The People of the Book’ means those who believe in the book revealed to Prophet Moses (i.e. Al-Taorah) and Jesus Christ (i.e. Injil i.e. The Bible).
The Group maintained that there is nowhere in the Holy Qur’an or Hadith where harming or killing of Jews, Christians and even unbelievers was permitted; adding that God said we should continue to live together in peace and harmony.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria also stated that in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SallaLlaahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) in Madina, the Holy Prophet allowed the Christians to worship in their own way in his Mosque during the cause of a community meeting which brought Muslims and Christians together.
The Group therefore appealed the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to set necessary machinery in motion to deal with erring Islamic preachers anywhere in the Country in-order to restore sanity to Islamic propagation in the Country; adding that Muslim Leaders should use the corrective mechanism in the Apex Islamic Body to check recklessness of some undesirable elements parading themselves as Islamic Preachers.
The Media Group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his beloved wife Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu not to be distracted by the provocative, irresponsible, and condemnable vituperations of the preacher, but to note that there are ‘bag eggs’ in every Society; and the law prevailing in the System is capable of dealing with the charlatans and their collaborators for maintenance of peace in the Society.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria is a Body of Muslim Professionals in various fields – notably Media, Public Administration, Public Relations, Arabic & Islamic Studies, Medicine, Engineering, Teaching Profession and other fields of human endeavour.
Established since 2006 and registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as an NGO, it seeks among other things to enhance quality of Islamic broadcast everywhere and in all media spaces, correct misrepresentations and misinterpretation of Islam to the people and increase Islamic Media representations in Media Organizations, promotion of religious understanding among various Religious Bodies irrespective of affiliations among other laudable objectives.
For now, it has Branches in 22 States of Federation.
