*Photo: Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria*
Against the backdrop of a viral video circulating in the social media space a so-called islamic cleric calling for killing of the wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu because she is a christian, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has urged the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to set necessary machinery in motion to deal with him.
In a press statement issued on Saturday by the National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, the group also called on the security agencies in the country to immediately fish the cleric out within the next 24 hours, and get him arrested and prosecuted without further delay.
Alhaji Ibrahim said “at this trying period of the nation, some irresponsible, incorrigible and unpatriotic elements must not be allowed to use religion to cause chaos in Nigeria.”
Reflecting on the teaching of Islam as regard Jews and Christians, the group stated categorically that the Holy Qur’an revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) described them “Ahlul-Kitab”, meaning ‘The People of the Book’ and muslims are enjoined to live with them and others in peace and tranquility.
According to the group, “The People of the Book’ means those who believe in the book revealed to Prophet Moses (i.e. Al-Taorah) and Jesus Christ (i.e. Injil i.e. The Bible).”
The group maintained that there is no where in the Holy Qur’an or Hadith where harming or killing of Jews, Christians and even unbelievers was permitted; adding that “God said we should continue to live together in peace and harmony.”
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria also stated that in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet Muhammad in Madina, he allowed the christians to worship in their own way in his Mosque during the cause of a community meeting which brought Muslims and Christians together.
The media group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife ” not to be distracted by the provocative, irresponsible, and condemnable vituperations of the preacher, but to note that there are ‘bag eggs’ in every society; and the law prevailing in the system is capable of dealing with the chalatans and their collaborators for maintenance of peace in the society.”
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria is a body of Muslim professionals in various fields – notably media, public administration, public relations, arabic & islamic studies, medicine, engineering and the teaching profession.
Established since 2006 and registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as an NGO , it seeks among other things to enhance quality of islamic broadcast everywhere and in all media spaces and correct misrepresentations and misinterpretation of Islam among other functions.
It has branches across the federation.
