The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned the defense of Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele by Afenifere, Ekiti State chapter, following allegations that Bamidele knew about the demolition of Sabo Central Mosque in Aramoko, Ekiti State. Afenifere, led by Mr. Gabriel Alonge, released a statement on 8th April, 2025, accused MURIC of inciting unrest and calling for the Department of State Security (DSS) to monitor the group’s activities.
In a fiery response issued on 9th April, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, dismissed Afenifere’s claims as baseless and accused the group of harboring anti-Muslim sentiments.
MURIC reiterated its position, asserted that the Senate Leader, as the sponsor of the constituency project responsible for the mosque’s demolition, must have been fully aware of the implications of his project.
“Were there no drawings for the construction? Was the owner of the constituency project not briefed by the architect? What about the project engineer? Did he not brief his client?” Akintola queried in the statement.
MURIC further criticized Afenifere for not advocating for a peaceful resolution and dialogue between Bamidele and the local Muslim community, instead of defending the demolition.
The controversy stem from the recent demolitions of mosques in Ekiti, including the Sabo mosque in Aramoko, attributed to Bamidele’s constituency project. MURIC highlighted the long history of mosque demolitions in the state, dated back to the administration of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, and criticized Afenifere for failing to defend the rights of Yoruba Muslims, whom the organization claimed have been consistently marginalized.
MURIC’s statement concluded with a call for Afenifere to stop defending the demolition of mosques and to engage with the Muslim community in a manner that promote understanding and cooperation. The group also questioned Afenifere’s longstanding lack of support for Yoruba Muslims in the face of religious discrimination in the region.
