Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has urged Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq not to allow religious zealots to transform the state into a hellhole.
Adams indicated in a letter to the governor that he was bringing to the governor’s attention “a clear and present danger in Ilorin,” which, he claimed, “may lead to an implosion if something drastic is not done immediately to checkmate some religious fanatics who are already on the rampage.”
He observed that by stopping an Isese worshipper from celebrating her religion’s celebration in Ilorin, noting that “These fanatics have demonstrated, through their actions, their lack of respect for the Constitution of Nigeria.”
He reminded the governor that Ilorin has been home to Nigeria’s three major religions for more than 400 years, and that Kwara is known as the “State of Harmony.”
Yoruba chieftain wrote that the governor should “prevail on the Emir of Ilorin, retired Justice Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, not to allow any Muslim fanatic invoke his name to cause insurrection because this can lead to a religious war.”
“It is absolute lunacy for anybody to say Ilorin has been captured for Islam and no other form of worship will be allowed, tolerated or accepted. This is the trait of spiritual illiterates,” he added.
He stated:
“Your Excellency, we don’t want what happened in Sokoto when Deborah was murdered by some blood-thirsty maniacs in the name of religion to happen in Ilorin.
“I don’t know how the festival will affect Christians praying in the church or Muslims praying in the Mosque.
“Even in Israel and Saudi Arabia, leaders of these two countries do not allow religious fanaticism to affect their technological advancement.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I want you to prevail on heads of religious sects in Ilorin not to disturb others from practising their faiths. Recall that a few years ago, some fanatics attacked some churches and Christians in Ilorin, leading to the loss of lives and property.
“Christians, Muslims and traditionalists don’t serve a God of destruction and darkness, but a God of tolerance, invention, creativity and light.
“Nobody has a right to kill a fellow Nigerian in the name of fighting for God. It is an act of foolishness and stupidity because the God we serve has not told anybody to fight for Him. He has the capacity to fight for Himself because there is nobody God created that He cannot handle.
“So, those fanatics in Ilorin should be legally, physically and spiritually guided and guarded because nobody is above the law.”
cc: Punch Ng
