Yoruba’s foremost socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has cautioned against inflammatory statements and unsecular practices that could threaten peaceful coexistence in Ekiti and other South-West states. The group urged all individuals and organizations to refrain from actions that may incite religious discord in the region.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Ekiti Chapter Chairman, Prince Gabriel Alonge, Afenifere specifically called on intelligence agencies, including the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to monitor the Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola. The group accused Akintola of making remarks that could ignite religious tensions in the South-West.
The warning follows Akintola’s claim that the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, had “declared war on Muslims” over the demolition of a mosque in Aramoko Ekiti, Ekiti State. Afenifere dismissed these allegations as baseless and misleading, stating that such rhetoric was dangerous to regional stability.
MURIC and the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria had previously supported the establishment of an independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in the region—an initiative that faced strong opposition due to concerns over its implications for peace and security.
Responding to Akintola’s remarks, Afenifere described his statements as “unfounded, reckless, and capable of disrupting the harmony among people of different religious beliefs in Ekiti and the wider South-West.”
The group further clarified the circumstances surrounding the mosque’s demolition, stating: “We read Prof. Ishaq Akintola’s press statement with deep concern. After thorough verification, we found no evidence to support his claim that Senator Bamidele declared war on Muslims.
“Our findings show that Senator Bamidele facilitated the reconstruction of the Alara Modern Market in Aramoko Ekiti. The market, which consists of 60 open shops and 40 lock-up shops, was inaugurated on March 28, 2025, and officially handed over to the Alara-in-Council and Ekiti West Local Government, the original owners of the property. Notably, the Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alfa Raheem Bamigbola, led the opening prayers at the market’s inauguration.”
Afenifere condemned Akintola’s comments as an attempt to destabilize Ekiti State, particularly in the wake of controversies surrounding the proposed Shariah Arbitration Panel.
“It is disappointing that Prof. Akintola would make statements capable of sowing discord among communities in Aramoko, Ekiti State, and the South-West at large. Our region has remained a beacon of peace and stability, and we reject any attempt to undermine that harmony,” the statement read.
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Afenifere reaffirmed the Yoruba tradition of religious tolerance, emphasizing that “in Yorubaland, we are known for embracing diversity, fostering accommodation, and engaging in constructive dialogue rather than divisive rhetoric.”
The organization called on security agencies to closely monitor individuals and groups promoting religious discord or advocating practices that undermine secular governance in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
