Islamic Movement of Nigeria blasts Lalong for copying El-rufai

Ibrahim Musa, President, Media Forum, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), has criticized Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau for banning the activities of the movement in the state.

In a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, Musa accused Lalong of imitating Gov. El’Rufai of Kaduna state in banning the activities of the movement without recourse to law.

"Even more ridiculous was what was reported from him as the reasons for this misadventure. He was quoted to have said, “I have read it that the movement is already banned in its headquarters in Kaduna, why should a branch then exist here? There should be no branch operating on the Plateau.” Adding that, “whoever is bringing another thing based on religion or ethnicity to Plateau State should please take it back to where it is coming from.

“It is perplexing that the premise upon which Plateau state governor has placed his own ban was simply because of the ban in Kaduna state.

“No recourse to the dictates of the law, reason or logic. He is merely copying Kaduna State without basis. This is awkward to say the least,’’ Musa said.

He noted that the ban on the activities of the movement in Plateau, like in Kaduna State, strips the citizens of the two states of their inalienable rights to practice their faith without molestation. “We believe Gov. Lalong is fully aware of this and his limitation.’’

Musa said Plateau is the least state expected to copy Kaduna state in the infringement of the rights of its citizens.

He said: “of all the myriad of crises bedeviling the state, IMN has never been implicated in any. It therefore beats imagination why the state would target IMN for persecution. Governor Lalong only seems to be playing to the gallery in making this ill-advised illegal and illogical move.’

"Governor Lalong appears to have jettisoned a more reasonable stand taken by his Press Secretary, Emmanuel Nanle, who was credited in an earlier report, while reacting to rumours of the ban, to have said that Shi’ites had a right to their religious activities. He has now joined hands with evil forces to persecute innocent people, including the record arrest, detention of 44 people, including pregnant and nursing mothers, minors as young as 4 years and other vulnerable population in the state such as the wounded who are still languishing in jail without proper medical care".

Musa appealed to the governor to rescind his decision to act like his counterpart in Kaduna state on matters concerning IMN. “We believe he (Lolong) should stand for justice, fairness and obedience to the rule of law.

“We call on him to exercise his powers in ordering for the release of members of IMN in detention immediately, pay compensation to IMN members who lost properties in the state-sponsored terror attacks on IMN in his state.

“We also expect him to prosecute those soldiers and thugs involved in the carnage during Ashura commemoration anniversary in Jos,’’ Musa said.