Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has advised the Ooni of Ile-Ife in Osun State, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to stop palace agents from forcing Muslims to pay levies for the Olojo festival.
MURIC made this declaration via a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola.
The statement was made available to DAILY POST on Monday.
Reports surfaced at the weekend that some people claiming to be palace agents have been going into markets forcing some Muslims to pay for the Olojo festival levies.
Akintola, in his reaction, advised the Ooni of Ile-Ife to stop his palace agents from forcing Muslims in Ile-Ife markets to pay levies illegally imposed for the Olojo festival.
Akintola, in the statement, demanded justice for the oppressed Muslim petty traders in the ancient town.
He described the levies imposed on the traders as illegal.
Akintola, in the statement, also condemned the seizure of goods belonging to the traders by the palace agents.
He added that some suspects, who have been identified as Mr. Efunwole Kola, Mr. Sogo Olagbaju, and Mr. Hezekiah Agunbiade, have been extorting the traders in the name of Olojo festival levies.
Akintola, while speaking further, maintained that these suspects must be made to return the seized goods.
“The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has received a report of economic extortion, religious persecution, harassment, intimidation, and coercion spanning more than five years, forwarded by a trade union under the aegis of Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN), Ile-Ife branch, Osun State.
“MURIC strongly condemns this invasion and the seizures. Apart from being illegal and unlawful, it is daylight robbery. It is also a deliberate attempt to impoverish poor Muslim traders who are struggling to survive in these hard times. It is wicked, inhuman, and insensitive.
“MURIC appeals to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to call his palace agents to order. Although they are most likely acting on their own, the demonstration of incontestable royal will to assert authority, discipline, law, and order by His Imperial Majesty will return confidence among Muslim petty traders.
“We demand justice for the oppressed Muslim petty traders. The suspects have been identified as Mr. Efunwole Kola, Mr. Sogo Olagbaju, and Mr. Hezekiah Agunbiade. These extortionists must be made to return the seized goods. Ooni could not have sent them. Kabiyesi is a man of peace and justice. The parasites must be brought to book to clear Ooni’s good name.”
