The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere for refusing to support the presidential ambition of National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
MURIC said it was shocked that more than two weeks after Tinubu made his presidential ambition known, Afenifere has kept mute while its leader, Pa Ayo Adesanya has displayed signs that he would not back the former Lagos governor’s presidential ambition.
In a statement signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described Tinubu as the only Yoruba man to have declared a presidential ambition so far, noting that he deserved to be supported to reap the gains of democracy which he laboured so much to actualise.
“As a member of the CD under Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti in those tough days, the Director of MURIC can testify that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited No. 19, Imaria Street, Anthony Village, Lagos secretariat of Dr. Beko, who was the CD chairman on several occasions to give both moral and financial support. It was a huge risk for him to have done this with the Abacha gestapo on the trail of pro-democracy activists,” MURIC’s statement read in part.
Read Also: 2023: “It’s a bloody lie” – Dokpesi denies saying nobody from S’East can be president
MURIC noted that Afenifere’s silence was not only myopic but also unpatriotic.
The Islamic organisation urged Afenifere to pick lessons from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, its counterpart in the South-East, which is supporting candidates from the zone.
“Unlike Afenifere’s cold attitude towards the only Yoruba man who has shown interest in the presidency (at least publicly), the Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohaneze, has pledged to support two Igbo men (Anyim Pius Anyim and Dave Umahi), who have expressed interest in the presidency with 10 billion naira.
“We call on Afenifere to sharpen its political instinct. An adage says one good turn deserves another. The Yoruba socio-cultural group should neither reject its best candidate nor remain neutral at a time others are embracing their own,” MURIC’s statement also read.
Leave a Reply