Edo State Muslims Carpet Oshiomole on Event cancellation

 

Holy Quran

Our reporter

Benin (Strategic) -The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Edo State chapter and the Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (EMEGG), yesterday ex­pressed utter resentment and disapproval over Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s cancel­lation of a peaceful sensitiza­tion programme in the state.

The sensitization which was billed to hold yesterday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was cancelled at the last minute by the governor without a reason when all plans were already put in place.

In a statement signed by the NSCIA Coordinator, Sirajudeen Muhammad and its Secretary General, Faruq Omogbai, the group de­scribed the cancellation as an infringement on the con­stitutional right of Muslims to freedom of association, expression and religion and vowed to resist any attempts by anyone to trample on their fundamental human rights. The group urged all Muslims in the state “to re­main calm and peaceful in the face of this provocation, whilst appropriate machin­ery to respond to this latest onslaught is being worked out with relevant stakehold­ers in the Ummah”.

It read: “The last minute cancellation is unacceptable to the Ummah as we view it as an affront and insult to the integrity of the entire Mus­lims in Edo State, because we know that the Comrade Governor cannot treat any programme or activity by Christian Association of Ni­geria (CAN) in the manner he has treated the Muslims.

“We wish to remind the Governor of Edo State that we are in a democracy in which the right of every Ni­gerian to freedom of associa­tion, freedom of expression and freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitu­tion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We shall resist any at­tempt by any person, no matter how highly placed, to circumscribe or abridge our fundamental liberties.