By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has written to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi who decamped to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday, demanding a public statement as to what his relationship with Nigerian Muslims will be if he becomes president.
This was contained in an open letter addressed to Mr. Peter Obi on Friday by the Executive Director of the Muslim rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The Islamic rights group, in the letter, specifically asked Mr Obi: “How will you treat us?”
The rights group, which pointed out that it is important to let Mr Obi know that MURIC is not allergic to Nigeria having a Christian president, said, “What we are interested in is merit, competence, integrity, justice and fairness”.
MURIC expressly made it clear that it will not support a candidate who will encroach on Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims.
It stressed that Nigerian Muslims are anxiously awaiting Mr Obi’s reaction, adding that the worst families are those who bottle up their feelings about one another.
The MURIC’s open letter to Obi reads, “We commend you for your bold actions, your diligence and your resilience in the Nigerian political arena.
“Your defection to the African Democratic Congress yesterday, Friday, 2nd January, 2026 marks another turning point in what God has done in your life.
“As the race for the 2027 general elections began earlier than expected, Nigerians have once again been awakened to their civic responsibilities. “In the process, we have noticed a flurry of political activities particularly your defection to the ADC yesterday and we believe that we should open a dialogue window with you.
“As the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election and a Christian, it is natural that you are a person of notable interest.
“It is therefore our keen desire to put our position clearly to you ab initio for mutual understanding.
“It is also our wish to know your disposition towards Nigerian Muslims and the wishes of the latter.
“This is important in furtherance of a robust national conversation as well as to keep faith with our avowed motto in MURIC, namely, ‘Dialogue, No Violence’.
“We are open, liberal and accommodating. We believe that the Nigerian project requires collaboration between people of all faiths while leadership position is not the exclusive right of people of any particular faith.
“In addition, we also believe that the people of the South East, like all other ethnicities, deserve the key to Aso Rock.
“We are paying attention to those who are likely to emerge as candidates in the coming elections in 2027 for similar engagements because the Muslim Rights Concern is concerned with the fate and welfare of Nigerian Muslims.
“Hence our interest in your person and your ambition to become the president of this country.
““Our demands are encapsulated in these three areas: proportionate representation, equal rights and freedom of religion.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Muslims have a significant percentage of the Nigerian population.
“We also possess qualified men and women, persons of pedigree and people of unquestionable integrity.
“We will therefore expect adequate and meaningful inclusion in appointments.
“In the same vein, we wish to bring to your attention certain issues bordering on equal rights and parity. These are things that Nigerian Christians are enjoying but which are denied Muslims. “An example is our demand for the declaration of the first day of the Islamic new year as a public holiday like 1st January of every year. We will like to know your position on this and such matters.
“Finally, we need the assurance that 2027 will be pure political exercise devoid of any reference to ‘religious war’.
“It is our strong belief that ‘Daddy’ alone cannot open the gates of Aso Rock for you, but with the support of Nigerian Muslims, including that of ‘Daddy’, your dream has a good chance of becoming a fait accompli.
“We can confirm authoritatively that Nigerian Muslims still nurse certain misgivings about you because of the above reason.
“We therefore demand a public statement stating what your relationship with Nigerian Muslims will be if you become president. How will you treat us?
“It is important to let you know that MURIC is not allergic to Nigeria having a Christian president. What we are interested in is merit, competence, integrity, justice and fairness.
“But above all, we will not support a candidate who will encroach on Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims.
“Nigerian Muslims anxiously await your reaction. We believe that the worst families are those who bottle up their feelings about one another.
“We have leveraged on the connectivity provided by the media to pour out our feelings to you with the hope that the Fourth Estate of the Realm will graciously oblige by taking our message to you and to the good Nigerian people as well.
“Please accept the honour of our highest esteem. Thank you”, the letter said.
ENDS
