By Charles Adingupu
The avalanche of criticisms trailing the leaked audio of a reported phone conversation between the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo would for a long time continue to trigger political discourse along religious boundaries as the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) harshly flayed the duo.
The audio which the LP presidential candidate claimed was doctored to suit the whims and caprices of the architects behind the curtain, allegedly had Obi calling the presidential election a “religious war” while urging Oyedepo to compel his people in the South-West and Kwara State, especially Christians to vote for him.
The MPAC Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, said, “The audio has clearly shown who they are and it is only those who are like them that would find the conversation ordinary. Mr Obi must have carefully chosen who to speak with regarding his ‘religious war’ strategy.
“It is unfortunate that while Muslims have remained committed to noble principles and democratic ideals for nation-building and peaceful coexistence, some Christian leaders have always been fanning the embers of bigotry and intolerance.
They have sowed the seeds of hatred in the hearts of their followers to the extent that they see Muslims as enemies and wish to exterminate them politically and physically.
It appears that politics is just a smokescreen to these hardened Islamophobes to execute their invidious ethnic and religious agenda.”
Kamor said the Muslims would not succumb to the antics of those who wish to burn Nigeria down if their goals were not achieved.
“If bitter religious gang-up could be made against a liberal Muslim with a pastor wife like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only God knows the extent of hatred haboured by these elements against observant Muslims in (politics) Nigeria. However, our solace lies in the fact that Nigeria belongs to all of us.
Muslims will continue to do their best to live above the board, champion causes for national progress and unity, and not succumb to the antics of those who wish to burn Nigeria down if their goals are not achieved.”
