Religious Group Calls for Fayemi’s Intervention Over Leader’s Arrest, Detention in Ekiti

Religious Group Calls for Fayemi’s Intervention Over Leader’s Arrest, Detention in Ekiti

POLITICS DIGEST – An Ekiti-based Islamic Group, Istijabah Muslim Society (IMS) has called for Governor Kayode Fayemi’s intervention to secure the release of its leader, Alhaji Dauda Bamigbola.

The cleric has been arrested on Wednesday in Aramoko Ekiti allegedly with the order of Ekiti West Local Government chairman Hon. Kareem Agunbiade.

IMS in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Ustas Abideen Olayiwola alleged that Bamigbola was illegally arrested and detained over the use of Public Address System to preach for good governance which according to them made their leader to be at loggerheads with the council chairman since he assumed office.

The statement added that IMS is apolitical and law abiding religious group of devoted Muslims that is determined to correct the ills in the society, particularly among Muslims.

It however accused the accused the chairman of taking several steps, over the last two months to victimize their leader and undermine his religious right as dictated by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

The statement added that, “AlhajiBamigbola, like every average preacher uses Public Address System to call for prayers and reels out benefits of being good to God and humanity.

Shortly after Hon. Agunbiade assumed office as our elected chairman, he swung into action; first by sending his political followers to our leader that his early morning preaching was indirectly referring to him or criticizing his government.

“This was followed by visit by the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who also came to convey the same message, alongside Hon Agunbiade’s aides, that he should pull down my Public Address System.

“Since that second visit by NSCDC officers, it has become a daily affair for the officers to threat, harass, abuse and insult me face to face or through telephone conversation that he would not have peace until he pull down the Public Address System.

“While the intimidation continued, the issue was taken to the Legislative Arm of the Local Government by Hon TajudeenMomodu, a loyal follower of the Chairman, who represented Aramoko Ward 02. Of course, it led to hot debate and later election where 8 out of the 10 councilors voted in favour of AlhajiBamigbola and his followers.

“Why appealing to HonourableAgunbiade and his followers to let our spiritual leader be, they (the Councilors) ruled that it would be injustice to single out an individual for ban when hundreds of other Muslims and Christian Clerics are also using Public Address System without any form of victimization.

“Yesterday morning, 12th February, 2020, shortly after the obligatory Morning Prayer, Policemen and NSCDC officers came in their drove and arrested Alhaji Bamigbola on the directives of Mr Kareem Agunbiade. He was taken away some minutes after 6am and detained till 7pm (over 12 hours), after which the DPO in charge of the station, Mr. Musa compelled him under duress to write an undertaken that the Public Address System would be pulled down, all efforts by Alhaji Bamigbola to convince them that he is only the leader but could not take decision alone fell on deaf hear as the DPO insisted to detain him except he signed.

Though nobody has expressly told AlhajiBamigbola his offence, feelers from the town have revealed that the revered Cleric is being persecuted for speaking truth to power on the need for elected officers to be fair and just in their approach to governance.

“Hon Agunbiade’s aides who came before yesterday’s Police arrest had also tactically revealed that the Local Government Boss felt slighted by our leader’s early morning delivery during the buildup to the Local Government election that votes should be cast only for people of integrity and not touts or half-baked politicians. As a result of this, we were asked to either go and apologize verbally or write a letter of apology to the Chairman if we were indeed ready to continue with our religious activities”, the group concluded.

IMS therefore called for Governor Fayemi’s intervention in securing the release of their leader, adding that in a secular country like Nigeria, where religion is a sensitive issue, we fear that the incessant detention of such a powerful leader could send a wrong signal to the larger society.

“As a peace loving governor, who has demonstrated through appointments and other activities that he is for all, we hereby humbly call on Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in this matter.

“We equally appeal to Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Traditional Rulers and other leaders of thought in Ekiti to help us appeal to Hon. Agunbiade to allow our leader enjoy his religious rights” IMS said.