MURIC kicks as rebuilt central mosque is renamed after Makinde

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has kicked against the decision of No country The government has decided to rename the popular central mosque on Iwo Road, Ibadan, after Governor Seyi Makinde.

The Islamic group demanded that the old name of the mosque be reversed.

MURIC made the request in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, and made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

During the Friday service in October 2019, Governor Makinde said that the Adogba Central Mosque will be demolished to make way for the construction of an interchange (bus terminal).

The governor said the project would take between nine and 11 months to complete.

He also said that the church around the interchange area will also be demolished.

The central mosque has now been rebuilt in another location almost four years after the governor’s promise.

The complex has an Arabic school, an Islamic Model School, a Research Center, a Library, an event hall, ample parking space and a good road network.

It has also been renamed after the governor, to the anger of MURIC, who accused the governor of trying to score cheap political points.

“Even the time of completion of the mosque is estimated to coincide with the election period of 2023. Seyi Makinde has played in the intelligence of the Muslim community of Oyo State. It’s outrageous,” said MURIC.

The group described the state government’s actions as desecrating places of worship.

“We are shocked by our marrow. What dare! It destroyed our place of worship. We cannot worship Makinde. We will worship Allah alone. It is true that he did not destroy the mosque ab initio. But now we can still ask him ‘Where is our mosque ?’ It is very immoral. It is also not wise.

“That’s why the mosque can only be named after him if the money used to build it is his own. They have to prove it to us but they haven’t. They use our common heritage. The money belongs to the taxpayers of Oyo State. It is not Makinde’s money. Therefore he has no moral right to name the mosque after himself. It’s daylight robbery. It’s abracadabra: the more you see, the less you see. Makinde had robbed Peter to pay Paul. Apart from the unscrupulous angle, the governor also showed unscrupulous motives.

“Unfortunately, the governor does not understand that Muslims are not happy with his actions. The best advice we can give him at this time is to remove his name from the mosque and replace it with the original name of the mosque that was destroyed, namely, Adogba Central Mosque.

“MURIC is known for dialogue and non-violence. Our motto is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’. We also do not issue threats or give ultimatums. But the best time for the governor to change the nomenclature is before the gubernatorial election comes next week, Saturday , March 18, 2023 to avoid a protest vote on that day.

Also read: 2023: Prepare for your defeat, APC tells Governor Makinde

“We say capital ‘NO’ for ‘Makinde Central Mosque’. It is a mischievous nomenclature. Our mosque is ‘Adogba Central Mosque.’ Engr Seyi Makinde does not have a mosque.”

The government remains mum

Contacted, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said he was aware of MURIC’s statement but declined to comment on the matter.

“That’s not what I want to talk about. I don’t want to say anything about this matter.”