Why FG rejects US religious freedom violation tag by MoIC - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Federal Government (FG) has rejected the US designation of Nigeria as a country that engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom, saying the iniquitous tag stems from an orchestrated narrative that has long been discredited, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture (MoIC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Sunday in Abuja, that the good people of Nigeria enjoy unfettered freedom to practice their religion, and blamed failed politicians and disgruntled elements - some of them supposedly-respected leaders - for latching on to religion as their trump card, especially in the run up to the last general elections, to oust the Buhari administration.

He said it is unfortunate that the United States (US) fell for the antics of the discontented and the unpatriotic few, who will not hesitate to hang Nigeria out to dry on the altar of their inordinate ambition and their sheer animosity towards the administration.

The Minister said the Nigerian government is acutely aware of how the political opposition, in particular, had spared no resources in deriving political capital from the various security challenges in the country

''The deliberate effort to give religious coloration to the farmers-herders clashes and the Boko Haram insurgency, in particular, has undoubtedly helped to mislead the US into concluding that the government is doing little or nothing to guarantee religious freedom in the country.

''But, as we have always said, the farmers-herders clashes have nothing to do with religion but everything to do with environmental and socio-economic realities. The religious tag given to the clashes has no basis in fact, but is very convenient for those who will very easily give the dog a bad name just to hang it. On its part, the Boko Haram terrorists are extreme fanatics who do not subscribe to the tenets of any religion, in spite of their pretense to Islamic adherence,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the good news is that the government has succeeded in curbing the farmers-herders clashes through the implementation of proactive and multi-dimensional strategy, which is yielding remarkable results, just as it has largely defeated the BokoHaram insurgency.

On the El-Zakzaky issue, which was referred to in the report by the US government, he described it is purely a criminal matter, which is being handled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Minister said while the government welcomes constructive criticism from any quarter, it rejects any attempt to sow the seed of mistrust among the various religious groups in the country.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Oluwo condemns tag of 'Ajele' in Osun politics - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has condemned those disparaging some politicians in Osun State and labelling them ‘ajele,’ which means ‘outsiders’ in Yoruba language, reports ITREALMS.

He also described them as uncivilized and agents of underdevelopment. 

Ola Akanbi said rather than disparage them, Oba Akanbi said Osun State people should celebrate the so-called Ajeles for their exposure and rich experience, which if well applied, will help develop the towns and the state at large. 

The traditional ruler said he would love to be described as an Ajele of civilisation and development.


Speaking penultimate Tuesday at the Free Medical Outreach for Iwo residents by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, said the campaign is christened  ‘Ilerioluwa’. The initiative was undertaken by the Ilerioluwa Free Health Mission. 

Over 2,000 residents of Iwo benefited from the project, which began at the weekend in Ejigbo. 

The word Ajele had surfaced since the beginning of the state’s election campaign as a derogatory word for candidates that are not ‘home grown.’ 

But Oba Akanbi said the towns, communities and the entire state of Osun need ajeles to bring in development because of their exposure and experience. 

He said: “What I heard is that some people are calling some other people ajeles. They said Oluwo is also an ajele. What is ajele? Ajele is somebody who brings civilization to your domain. You can see the free medical services being offered here today. Iwo has lacked civilization because back in the days, we pushed civilization out".

"That’s why Iwo has not been developed. We want people, even those in the Diaspora to come and better the lot of this country. We are in dire need. Anybody that calls indigenes living outside the town, state or country ajele is uncivilized. 

"We want Diasporans to come because of their exposure. Who is actually not an ajele one way or the other? If you study Law in Nigeria, you have to go to Lagos, Abuja or Enugu for your Law school. That’s outside your locality. It then means that everybody is an ajele one way or the other. 

"Ajele is about civilization. And this is what we want. We want development. The way to develop is not by sitting down in a local area. We need exposure. As the Oluwo, I’ve brought civilisation  to my domain because of my exposure. So, if they call me an ajele, I’m happy to be one.”

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Pix: Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, courtesy of Punch.