Popular preacher and former chairman of the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold, during an interview with The Nigerian Tribune correspondent, expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping in the South West and the tendency to associate the crisis with religion.
Responding to a question on the measures he had suggested to prevent the Yoruba from being overrun by bandits from the North, Akeugbagold said Islam teaches adherents to be conscious of the security and well-being of their country, state and communities. He described Islam as a global religion that encourages love for one’s country.
He explained that he had warned that unless the Yoruba addressed certain mistakes, their land could eventually be overrun by bandits. According to him, one of the key issues requiring attention was religion. He argued that the problem of radical Islamic ideology in Yorubaland needed to be confronted, alleging that its proponents were sowing seeds of discord among the people.
Akeugbagold maintained that everyone should be subject to the rule of law, while religious laws should be practised only among followers of the respective faiths. He noted that religious differences had never been a major issue in the South West, recalling that Muslims and Christians traditionally celebrated major religious festivals together.
However, he said hostility towards Islam could arise when some individuals claimed that their religion permitted the killing of people for certain actions, adding that such statements created resentment among followers of other faiths.
Further talking, he said, “Because of this unchecked behaviour, the Yoruba no longer enjoy the religious harmony we once had. The preaching of radical ideologies has eaten deeply into the peace of our society in the South-West. It is wrong for anyone to go online and claim that any Muslim who congratulates Christians during Christmas is a kafir (disbeliever) destined for hellfire.”
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