The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged that political saboteurs undermined its efforts to secure the appointment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as a minister, thereby frustrating the group’s mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims from marginalization.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC disclosed that it had solicited El-Rufai’s support to mobilize the North for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. The group claimed that El-Rufai played a crucial role in securing northern backing for Tinubu’s emergence.
MURIC expressed concerns that despite the success of electing a Yoruba Muslim as president, systemic obstacles have prevented Yoruba Muslims from enjoying meaningful political representation. The group accused unnamed powerful forces of blocking competent Yoruba Muslims from being appointed to key government positions.
“As matters stand today, most Islamic organisations in Yorubaland, including MURIC, have no access to the presidency. Neither do we have any minister with whom we have established rapport. We have been shut out,” the statement read.
The group further alleged that Yoruba Christians were “stealing the identities of Yoruba Muslims” to secure political appointments meant for Muslims, described the practice as fraudulent and an act of religious impersonation.
MURIC urged President Tinubu to initiate dialogue with El-Rufai, argued that his continued exclusion from the administration is a strategic loss. It warned that a political caucus is deliberately widening the rift between the president and the former Kaduna governor.
“For mobilizing the whole North to support the incumbent, for going to court to challenge the emefialisation of the naira (which was aimed at sabotaging the emergence of Tinubu as president), efforts should be made to close the gap between El-Rufai and the president,” MURIC stated.
The group also advised the president to review the selection process for appointing Muslims into government positions, stressing the need for proper verification to prevent identity fraud.
