BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

The Conference for Islamic Organisations, CIO, has described the inability of the government to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls sixty-five days after they were kidnapped as a national shame just as it maintained that the Boko Haram insurgents are neither representing Islam nor Muslims.

The group which is a conglomerate of Muslim organisations in the South-West made it known at a press conference on the state of the nation.

Speaking on a number of national issues, Sheikh AbduRahman Ahmad who was represented by Imam Qasim Badrudeen, former Amir, MSSN, Lagos unit, stated that against the background of the growing insecurity and other ugly developments in the country, it has become imperative for the Lagos Muslim Community to lend its voice so that peace may reign.

Boko Haram menace/Chibok girls

The Council urged the Federal Government and the international community to intensify efforts aimed at rescuing the over 200 abducted school girls, stating: “It is a national shame that the girls are still in captivity up till this moment. We pray the Almighty Allah to ensure the safe return of the Chibok girls.”

“At this juncture, we would like to reiterate that the Boko Haram insurgents are neither representing Islam nor Muslims. Muslim leaders across the country have vehemently condemned the nefarious activities of the criminal group. In fact, it would appear that the Boko Haram campaign is even targeted at Islam and Muslims.”

“It is on record that the insurgents have killed more Muslims than non-Muslims since their emergence. Recent developments across the country have tended to lend credence to the growing concerns among Muslims that-the so-called Boko Haram insurgents may be non-Muslims tutored to act as Muslims, with a view to maligning Islam.”

The group continued: “A case in point is the May 18 foiled attempt by some Osun State Christian leaders to launch a fake Boko Haram attack on a church in Ikonifin Olaoluwa Local Government of the state, with a view to implicating Muslims and smearing Islam.”

“Their attempt to disappear into the thin air was foiled by some youth in the town who chased and apprehended them. Had they escaped, the attack would have been blamed on Muslims in the town and the conflagration that might have ensued afterwards would have been grave.”

“We reject the attempt by Christian leaders to sweep the case under the carpet, and demand that the state police command thoroughly investigate the matter and arraign the suspects accordingly. We call on the Inspector General of Police to wade into the matter to ensure that justice is done.”

Clamour for Christian governor in Lagos

The group described the call for a Christian governor in Lagos state in 2015 as preposterous and undemocratic. “This demand is rather preposterous, and utterly undemocratic. It is capable of polarising the state along religious lines, and jeopardising the peaceful co-existence among various religious groups in the whole of the South-West.”

“Never in the history of Lagos or any other state in the South-West was any governorship candidate formally nominated or elected based on his or her religious identity.” We state unequivocally that any attempt by any political party to foist any candidate on Lagos on the basis of religion will spell doom for such candidate at the polls.