A rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has lashed out at fiery Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare, over his comment on the floor of the National Conference Tuesday that Chairman Idris Kutigi should refrain from starting his speeches with a short Arabic phrase seeking Allah’s guidance.
The group also accused the
Presidency of having deliberately manipulated the delegates list from the
South-west geopolitical zone to marginalize Muslims from the region.
Mr. Bakare had, at the first plenary
of the Conference, drawn attention to the short Arabic phrase that preceded
Justice Kutigi’s speech as he called the Conference to session.
The clergyman then called for
a uniformed prayer at all meetings of the Conference.
“Mr. Chairman, yesterday you said
something at the inauguration of the Conference and I did not understand,” Mr.
Bakare said. “Today again, you said it. I think you should pray in the way all
of us understand because if I stand up and say, ‘Praise the Lord somebody,’ we
will turn this place into a church service.”
But in a statement Thursday morning,
MURIC said Mr. Bakare’s “attack” on Justice Kutigi was a premeditated
demonstration of his hatred for Muslims and Islam.
The group said, “Tunde Bakare’s attack
is rather unfortunate. His criticism arose from premeditation. It is known
all over the world that individual Muslims start speeches with a short Arabic
phrase in which they seek Allah’s guidance in their utterances and Justice
Kutigi did not do more than that. MURIC affirms clearly, unequivocally and
unambiguously that the revered jurist has every right to do this.
“Tunde Bakare’s outburst was
therefore a manifestation of pathological hatred for Muslims and their faith.
“His behavior smirked of a gross lack of tolerance for the faith of others and
portrays the pastor as an enforcer. Attempting to stop the chairman from using
his faith to guide him is an encroachment on the latter’s Allah-given and
fundamental human right.”
MURIC however advised Muslim
delegates at the conference not to be provoked by Mr. Bakare’s criticism of
Justice Kutigi.
It said, “MURIC appeals to Muslim
delegates in the conference not to pay the pastor back in his own coins
“MURIC expects Pastor Tunde Bakare
to understand that a conference of this magnitude requires, first and foremost,
mutual respect, understanding and tolerance of the highest order; not
suspicion, rancour and ill-feeling,” the group said. “Delegates need to guard
their tongues and watch their language because a rancorous body language
emerging from the national conference is capable of sending this country up in
flames.
“Tunde Bakare has stirred the
hornet’s nest by firing the first salvo. His request that religion should
not be brought into the national conference is unrealistic, deceitful and
hypocritical.Nigerians are religious people and this should reflect in our
deliberations unless we want to deceive ourselves.
“The colonialists themselves
bequeathed to us a controversial religious setting which must be discussed and
reviewed at this conference. The status quo is chaotic. It must change. It must
be done today, not tomorrow. This is the right time to address issues
objectively. It is not the time for sentimentalities.
Read full statement below. 
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