Press Release: 2007: MURIC DEMANDS CLARIFICATION FROM OKOTIE 26th June, 2006

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has noted the interest expressed by Pastor Chris Okotie to vie for the post of president of Nigeria in the 2007 presidential election. We wish to make it crystal clear that any Nigerian citizen who believes that he has the right potentials is free to express such a wish. Pastor Okotie is therefore equally free to do so.

However, Okotie’s antecedents give us cause for concern. Records show that he has zero tolerance for Muslims. His blind opposition to Shari‘ah is well known and he does not hide it. He has personally and publicly engaged in anti-Shari‘ah polemics in the recent past. Our fear is that Okotie may have a hidden agenda. As a pathological enemy of Shari‘ah, Okotie has all the qualities it takes to set fire to this country if elected president.

Nigerians may not appreciate Obasanjo, but he has managed to douse religious tension. In spite of the fact that Obasanjo did not want Shari‘ah, his statesmanship has guided him so far and religious war has been averted. We warn that Okotie is coming with just one agenda: to excommunicate Shari‘ah from the shores of Nigeria. He does not possess Obasanjo’s diplomacy or his tolerance. He will plunge Nigeria into war.

MURIC affirms clearly, indubitably and unequivocally that Nigerian Muslims will employ every constitutional means available to defend the fundamental and Allah-given rights of Muslims in the country. No president will be allowed to tamper with Shari‘ah provisions in the constitution. MURIC is therefore constrained to task Pastor Chris Okotie: what is Okotie’s game plan? What does he have in store for Shari‘ah? Okotie must speak out or Nigerian Muslims will reject him at the polls.

For the avoidance of doubt, MURIC believes in the indivisibility of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also believe that leadership posts in Nigeria can be held by adherents of any of the existing religions in the country. We are saying, in essence, that if a good Christian emerges as a candidate, we will vote for him and support his government if he wins. This is what we have done for General Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian. We will do the same for a good Muslim candidate. Perhaps we should let the world know that we will oppose a Muslim candidate if he does not possess the right qualities because such a candidate is capable of tarnishing the image of Islam in the country.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola                                                   Mallam Yaqub Ahmad
DIRECTOR                                                       SECRETARY GENERAL