By Kenneth Onuoha
Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has urged the Department of State Services to urgently arrest Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu for religious rascality and bigotry.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the National Youth Leader of Southern Kaduna People’s Union, Isaac John, also accused the professor of deliberately attempting to ”window dress” Bishop Matthew Kukah’s Christmas message with religious colourations and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the Bishop.
”We call on the Department of State Services to as a matter of urgency arrest Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu to serve as deterrence to those already brain washed and misled by his unguided statements and prevent a religious war.
”We are equally urging the professor to as a matter of public interest and safety submit himself to the nearest psychiatric home for an immediate psychological examination for shamelessly trying to establish a Nexus between Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s message and Muslims vis Avis Islam.”
It continued, ”The youths and People of Southern Kaduna hereby unequivocally warn that we will not accept further attacks on the person and character of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah under any pretence.
”Neither Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu nor any person or group of persons can mourn more than the bereaved.”
The Union was referring to an eleven (11) point press statement issued and signed by one Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu on behalf of Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto, on Tuesday, asking the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto State, Matthew Hassan Kukah, to leave the state after he criticised Muhammadu Buhari in his Christmas message.
SOKAPU said the Bishop, out of passionate patriotism, voiced out the obvious truth when he said, ” Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any Non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done with his nepotism and gotten away with it.”
It said, ”We are, however, dismayed and pained that a Professor will condescend this low, throwing caution to the wind and towing the path of religious rascality and bigotry by deliberately attempting to window dress the Bishop’s message with religious colourations and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the Bishop.
”The demeaning call by the so-called Professor for Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah to ‘apologise to the Muslim Ummah or quickly and quietly leave the Seat of the Caliphate’ is not just ridiculous and unacceptable but an affront to the rights of all Nigerians to live and resides freely in all parts of the country.
“We believe that the reckless statement credited to the Professor does not in anyway reflect the position of a responsible group such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum.
”The Bishop’s message was directed to the powers that be and cannot in any way be said to have been directed to Muslims and Islam, a religion well known to profess peace.
The youths of Southern Kaduna, therefore, vow to reciprocate any form of attack directed or aimed at putting the Bishop in harm’s way by any group of ethnic loyalists, religious extremists and enthusiasts.”