A Socio Religious Group known as Youth For Islam Movement (YFIM) has urged all Muslim Ummahs to disregard a rumor making rounds that the People’s Democratic Party Oyo Central Senatorial candidate Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka is not a Muslim but a Christian.
The group in a release signed by it’s President Suliaman Mustapha Babatunde, noted that Politics should be done without bringing religious sentimennts into consideration, the statement by Babatunde indicated that Chief Bisi Ilaka is a well known Muslim who have over the years supported YISM and other Islamic organistions in the state and around the country.
Babatunde queried that if they claim Ilaka is a Christian, with what denomination or church does he worship and Secondly all the current Senators are Muslims and they have no problems with that, without doubt hypocrisy is at play here. Whatever these persons have in mind definitely not in line with Islamic teachings. Islam does not preach hypocrisy.
The group asserted that Ilaka is from a family with reach and proud islamic antecedent in Oyo town and find it rather unfortunate that certain unscrupulous fellows will at this time be throwing up religious sentimennts to disparage the person of Ilaka because of political profits.
The statement stressed that though Ilaka is a practicing Muslim, he has always exhibited tolerance and cordial relationship with our brothers and sisters of other faiths. This attribute the group stated has endeared the people of Oyo Central Senatorial and the state at large to the Ladilu of Oyo Kingdom.
Babatunde stated that it is obvious what the peddlers of this lie are seeking to achieve, it is all about politics and not because they are lovers of Islam, certainly, they have come to the sad realisation that Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka is the candidate to beat in Oyo Central Senatorial zone and as such, they are appealing to primitive sentiments in other to hoodwink the people.
The group however, vow that they will not relent in their support for Ilaka who is a devout Muslim and who has over the years threw his weight behind the YIS and the Islamic Community.
The group also called on other religious community to look away from the attempt by those who seek to divide us by emphasizing on our differences.
The group concluded by calling on the people of Oyo state to be wary of those whose plans are to cause disharmony amongst us, along religious line to promote their selfish political interest. Ilaka through his AFANI FOR ALL Foundation has touched a lot of lives, irrespective of their religious inclination, the people can see through this latest Political subterfuge and it’s dead on arrival.
