South Eastern Muslims
Organisation of Nigeria (SEMON), a socio-cultural Igbo group, has called on
Igbo Muslims to participate in a national event by joining political parties
and contesting any positions of choice.
In a statement signed by Muhammad
Ajah and Abdurrahman Urama, its national chairman and national secretary, the
group alleged that a lot of Igbo Muslims are interested in contesting political
positions but hold back for lack of funds and fear of wasting their “scarce
resources” only to be disqualified during the screening process on religious
grounds.
It commended the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) for always looking out for it members in the
north.
The group said in a statement:
“We are happy that more of our brethren are venturing into politics. For 2019,
some of us in different Southeast states showed interest or bought forms to
contest elections. But our consternation is that we are always disqualified on
religious base.
“And no group from the Muslim
organizations in Nigeria care to talk on this. But the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) has continued to make genuine cases for their brethren in the
north.
“Recently, CAN in Niger State
called on the governorship candidates of all political parties in the state to
ensure they pick a Muslim/Christian team for the 2019 governorship election in
the interest of fairness and respect between the two major religions in the
country.
“In states like Adamawa, Kaduna
and few others in the north, no Muslim governorship aspirant can easily win
election without having a Christian as his running mate. Is it a taboo for a
Christian governorship aspirant in the Southeast and South-south to pick a
Muslim running mate for election?”
The group noted that even though
the Igbo Muslims are “intentionally” neglected by their representatives after
every general election, they should not be discouraged from exercising their
franchise in the forthcoming polls.
It also urged Muslim association
to advocate for the inclusion of Muslims in the political development of
Nigeria.
“While we commend CAN for this
follow up of political activities of their members in their northern minority
areas, we think it is naturally reasonable for the apex umbrella bodies of the
Muslim Ummah of Nigeria such as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs (NSCIA) and the Jama’atu Nasril-Islam (JNI) to put up strong advocacy
for the inclusion of Igbo Muslims in the political development of Nigeria and
their states,” it said.
“The Muslim political class
should not be complacent with their placements and forget the political
alienation of their brethren in the Southeast. This is a wakeup call on the
Muslims as the 2019 political dispensation gear up.”
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