The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has asked the leading Yoruba social-political organisation, Afenifere, to tender an unreserved apology for comparing popular activist, Sunday Igboho, to Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Afenifere had recently compared the activist’s current travail in Benin Republic to that of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah.
But MURIC, in a statement signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, attacked Afenifere, saying that the statement by the socio-cultural group not only sacriledgious but outrageous and audacious.
“Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has compared Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a. Igboho, to Prophet Muhammad. This is totally unacceptable.
“It is not only sacriledgious but outrageous and audacious. Afenifere has manifested categorical desertification of discernibility coupled with an alarming height of tramadolised hero-worshipping. It is provocative, preposterous, repugnant and nauseating,” the organisation said.
“The circumstances surrounding the migration of Prophet Muhammad in 622 C.E. to Madinah differ a lot from those that sent Igboho to Benin Republic in July 2021.”
Muhammad was invited to Madinah by the Madinese whereas Igboho was not invited by the people of Cotonou. Muhammad was a prophet of God, Igboho is not. Muhammad’s constituency is the whole world while Igboho’s activities are restricted to South Western Nigeria.
MURIC said it was therefore an exercise in excessive exaggeration for Afenifere to have compared Igboho to a universal prophet whose followers in their billions spread across all the continents and countries of the world.
According to the Muslims rights group Afenifere’s action is geared towards diminishing the immense popularity of Prophet Muhammad and whittle down the influence of Islam on the world as a whole and trivialise the essence of the Abrahamic faiths.
“Afenifere did not stop at comparing Igboho to Muhammad. It also compared him to Moses (Prophet Musa, peace be upon him). Moses was a prophet of God for crying out loud. But is Igboho a prophet?
What does Afenifere want to turn Igboho to? Another prophet? Afenifere’s goal is to exert influence on Igboho and to gain total control of him. Afenifere should leave Igboho alone. It should stop playing politics with the young man’s life.”
Sunday Igboho was recently arrested in Benin Republic alongeith his wife, Ropo as they attempted to escape from Nigeria to Germany.
Igboho’s attempt to escape to Germany followed deadly attack at his Soka, Ibadan residence by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, who also gunned down some of his side and arrested many others.
He is currently being prosecuted by the Government of Benin Republic for obtaining fake passport with which he tried to travel to Germany.
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