Following rumors and deliberately fabricated intelligence reports doing the rounds that members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria are going to invade Kaduna and even attack clerics that supported the ban placed on the IMN by Nasiru El-Rufai, we find it necessary to relate our stance to the general public.
The IMN has no such plan of invading anywhere or attacking anybody, anywhere as it is not in the character and practice of the Movement to engage in any form of violence or intimidation even as it is a victim of such.
The Ashura event is a symbol in which adherents of the Islamic faith commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). It takes place every tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, beginning with the first ten days period of mourning, reaching its peak on the tenth day with the Ashura procession.
Indeed we are coming out in large numbers to join the world in marking Ashura Day. This is not the first time we are holding such a peaceful procession; those living along the route we normally take during the marching knew that it has always been peaceful for the past several years. The one coming up tomorrow across most of the state capitals of the federation will not be different.
We call on the public to dismiss such rumors intended at causing chaos and disrupting peace and serenity by creating unnecessary tension with the intention of painting the IMN black by its adversaries that include the Kaduna state government and its Wahhabi partners.
We also wish to say categorically that should anybody be attacked, intimidated or threatened through any manner or any means, the blame should go to Nasir El-Rufai, his cabinet and their Wahhabi partners that have concocted and are spreading the rumor to justify their evil intention of banning the IMN.
The essence of the Ashura march is to remind people of conscience, the brutal oppression suffered by Imam Husain (AS) at the hands of the tyrannical ruler Yazid bin Muawiya in the year 680AD.
The Karbala tragedy that happened on that day is difficult to fathom, but looking at what happened to Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and the IMN in December, 2015, it is easy to understand that there are really some wolfs in sheep clothing among humans.
We will use this opportunity to still press it on the authorities holding our leader Sheikh Zakzaky illegally to release him immediately so that he can attend to his medical needs.
SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT MEDIA FORUM IMN
0805 078 6093 (Text only)
11/10/16
