Ismaeel Uthman
THE Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC) has cautioned the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against using the religious body to fight political battle, stating that politicians should be left to play politics.
According to OSMC, CAN has been getting itself enmeshed in political issues and indirectly widening the religious division in the country rather than concentrating on unity and peace building.
The President of the Muslim Community, Alh. Mustafa Olawuyi, stated this on Sunday while unveiling the activities to celebrate the coming Islamic new year, Hijrah 1444AH.
The new year begins on Saturday, the first day of Muharram which is the first month of the new year (Hijrah 1444AH).
Answering questions on the stance of the OSMC on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olawuyi said the organization would not like to meddle in political affairs like its Christian counterpart, CAN.
He accuses CAN of too much involvement in political affairs, particularly on its criticism of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Olawuyi urged CAN not to mix religion with politics, just as he called on Christians to caution the leadership of their association on meddling in political affairs.
The OSMC President said, “Our comment on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC is that it is simply a political affair. We are religious organisation; we should allow politicians to play politics while we concentrate on peace and unity building of the nation.
“APC is not the only party with presidential candidate in Nigeria. If you are not in support of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, you are at liberty to vote for candidate of your choice. That should not be causing problem.
“It is unfortunate that people are playing politics with religion and vice-versa. This is not the first time a political party would have president and vice president or governor and deputy governor of same faith. It happened in 1993 presidential election and even before that time, we had had Head of State and his vice from same faith.
“Here in Osun, both Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and Erelu Olusola Obada were Christians as governor and deputy governor. There was no hues and cries on that from we Muslims. People did not consider it as anything serious. Check other states where we currently have Christians as governor and deputy governor. Politics is different from religion.
“I will like to urge our Christian counterpart, CAN, to separate politics from religion and religion from politics. The way CAN is going about on political affairs is not the best. The organisation should be more concerned about uniting Nigerians in peace than contributing to divisive issues through organisational comments.
“CAN is getting too much involved in political affairs and that is not healthy for the religious body. Christians should see to the restructuring of CAN to achieve its core mandate.”
