Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has slammed Dr. George Moghalu, for allegedly stopping mosque construction in the Warri area office of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.
Moghalu is the new Managing Director of NIWA.
The structure was at roofing level when the order for the stoppage was said to be given.
MURIC described the alleged action action of Moghalu as denial of Allah-given fundamental rights of the Muslim staff in the Warri area office of NIWA.
In a statement on Monday by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said Moghalu’s action was tantamount to religious persecution.
The statement reads in part: “Moghalu’s stop work order on a mosque in NIMA’s Warri area office should be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians. It is arbitrary, vengeful and inimical to peaceful coexistence. We understand where Moghalu is coming from. He simply comes across as the typical extremist Christian in office who is determined to use his position to oppress Muslims under him.
“The Moghalu factor in Christian-Muslim relationship vividly illustrates the tragedy of the Nigerian nation. Nigeria is the only country where religious fanatics are allowed to break the law in order to persecute people who do not belong to their faith. It is noteworthy that those who have been responsible for persecuting Muslims over the hijab affair, forceful removal of caps and intimidation over the wearing of beards are all Christians. They continue to oppress Muslims knowing fully well that what they are doing is illegal and that the law permits Muslims to wear their hijab, cap, turban and beards.
“What is disheartening about Moghalu’s action is that he is a well educated man and he knows that what he is doing is wrong. Like many other islamophobic government officials, Moghalu is a metaphor for religious intolerance. Yet the hypocrisy in the persecution of Muslims in this country lies in its limitation to the South only. It is either in the South West or the South East.
“But why is this so when we operate the same constitution in both North and South? Why do state governments and overzealous Christian officials in the South persist in persecuting Muslims? What is happening in Southern Nigeria is that instead of following due process, a Christian in office wants to use his authority to oppress Muslims. This will not promote cordial relationship among the adherents of different faiths in the country. It must stop. Can these officials attempt half of what they are doing to Muslims in the South if they are in the North? Could Moghalu have attempted to stop the construction of a mosque in any Northern area office of NIWA, say Kano or Sokoto?”
