01. Sokoto Breach of Public Peace:
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has called for calm and restoration of peace in Sokoto State especially the State Capital following the unfortunate killing of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto – Deborah Samuel over blaspheming post on a Whatsaap group by the deceased.
In a Press Statement released today and signed by the National Coordinator of the Group Mal. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Group called on Parents, Guardians and youths in the State to heed the advice of the Sarkin Muslumi and Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar that it is unislamic to kill anyone for whatever reason except if such a person committed murder and condemned to death by a Court of Law; adding that ‘there is no jungle justice in Islam’.
The Muslim Media Watch Group aligned itself Sultan’s view and advised protesting youths in Sokoto to stop breaching the public peace adding that Islam is a religion of peace; calling on ignorant muslims to stop misrepresenting Islam and get better-educated.
On the call for the release of two suspects arrested by the Police over the crime, the Group called on the Security Agencies in Sokoto State to fish-out the real perpetrators and their collaborators instead of ‘arresting only two persons after two days of a mob action’.
The Group warned non-muslims to steer clear of provocative religious pronouncements, social media posts and religious broadcasts capable of causing religious riot; and at the same time stated that muslims should desist from over-reaction leading to jungle justice over any wrong-doing whatsoever.
02. International Family Day:
On today’s International Family Day, the Muslim Media Watch Group called on Parents and Guardians to inculcate sound moral and religious values on their children wards; adding that breakdown of family values and virtues in the Family Units is responsible for insecurity, poverty, corruption, lack of social infrastructure and bad leadership the Nation is currently facing now.
03. Mixing Religion with Politics
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria also called on Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria ( PFN) to stop mixing religion with politics.
In its reaction to the threat of PFN saying ‘it would not accept Muslim-Muslim ticket in the forthcoming Presidential Election, the Group accused PFN of insincerity and hypocrisy as it refused to condemn the marginalisation of muslims in several states of the North and South of Nigeria.
MMWG questioned Christian-Christian tickets of Governors of some States and maintained that where Nigeria is today, religion of leaders does not matter but ability, agility, capability and integrity to lead well.
It is unfortunate that quite often Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its conglomerates have always mix religion with politics without weighing its implications. In several States like Edo, Delta, Benue, Plateau, Ekiti and Ondo States, Governors and their Deputies have been christians. That muslims are not fighting over this should convince our Christian brethren how tolerant we have been, the Group maintained. It urged Christian Bodies to fight for justice, fairness and equity irrespective of those affected; adding that that is what is known as patriotism instead of using religion to threaten
peace-loving Nigerians.
Signed
IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI, FCIPM
National Coordinator,
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG)
14th Shawwal, 1443 AH
15th May, 2022 CE
