Bodija praying ground: We’ll treat you like Bola Ige – Islamic group tells Gov. Makinde

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said that the Muslim community in Oyo State will patiently wait till 2023 and ensure Governor Seyi Makinde does not return for a second term.

The group said this while debunking Makinde’s claim that one of the mosques in the state, the Bodija Mosque, was built on part of the land earmarked for a recreation centre.

MURIC had earlier accused Makinde of starting a systematic, well-rehearsed and gradual elimination of Islamic landmarks in the state.

The group made the accusation after it was reported that the State Government had earmarked a Muslim ‘Id praying ground situated at Bodija, Ibadan, for the construction of a recreation centre.

And in reaction to MURIC’s claim, the Governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said that ‘part of the land which was designed as a recreation centre since the creation of Bodija Estate was used to build a mosque and a church’.

MURIC described the Governor’s assertion as false, adding that Bodija Muslims bought the land on which the mosque was built and had also engaged the electricity authorities to relocate the tension wires on the land.

MURIC’s statement, which was signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, was issued on Monday.

“The governor claimed that ‘Part of the land which was designed as a recreation centre since the creation of Bodija Estate was used to build a mosque and a church.

“This is a blatant lie. The governor has made it look as if the Oyo State Government gave the Muslims the parcel of land on which Bodija mosque was built,” the statement added.

MURIC further accused Makinde of trying to divert the attention from the Muslim praying ground to the mosque whereas the issue in contention is the former.

The Islamic rights group said that its earlier accusation against the governor was that he was trying to seize the Muslim praying ground and not the mosque, wondering why Makinde is turning the matter round.

“We will not allow Makinde to play the game according to his own rules. So we are not discussing the mosque,” MURIC said.

The group said that Makinde shot himself in the foot by trying to manoeuver his way out of the question, adding that he inadvertently admitted that he is building a recreation centre.

“Mr. Governor Sir, in what location are you building your recreation centre? Is it not on the Muslim praying ground? But that was exactly what we accused you of doing. Statements like ‘The new construction will not in any way tamper with the existing mosque in the area’ is not only diversionary. It is deceitful. Nigerians are not fools,” MURIC added.

“Makinde is simply afraid of his own shadow because MURIC has never been known to foment trouble.”

MURIC noted that the only language that politicians such as Makinde understand ‘is the next election’, “Oyo State Muslims spoke to the late Bola Ige in the language he understood. The latter lost his second term election.

“Oyo State Muslim Community will speak to Makinde in the language he understands. The clock is ticking,” the group threatened.