The Immediate Past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Nassarawa State, Yusuf Shehu Usman, has reacted to the statement of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which accused Bishop Kukah of describing Islam as a violent religion among other allegations.

Usman recalled that when MURIC issued the press release condemning Bishop Kukah, many Muslims, including himself, initially took up the matter on social media in defence of Islam.

However, in a post seen by TheNigeriaLawyer, the Senior Lawyer said he has been availed the full speech of the Bishop and his finding is that Bishop Kukah did not describe Islam as a violent religion

“I have read it over and over again and wish to state that from all I read line by line, there was nowhere in the message where the Bishop referred to Islam as a violent religion

“I did not see it in the body, context, and text of the Bishop’s message delivered on Christmas day

“I am convinced that the Bishop did not make that statement in his Christmas Message,” he said

Usman, who was the pioneer Deputy Director of the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, said Bishop merely exercised his freedom of expression as a Nigerian. He challenged the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to prove where the Bishop described Islam as a religion of violence

According to Usman, “He said a lot of things critical of the Government but even if not a Bishop, he is fully entitled as a Nigerian, to express his views on the state of the nation and that is what every Nigerian who wishes to do so, have been doing since Insecurity became a matter of national discourse

“It is now become imperative to challenge MURIC to substantiate it’s allegations against the Bishop, especially on the part where it claimed that the Bishop had referred to Islam as a violent religion”

He expressed concern that if the issue is not handled with caution and the truth, it is capable of setting the nation on the dangerous path of religious crisis

“The MURIC should either substantiate it’s claim on this or apologise to the Bishop and Nigerians for making a false statement capable of causing religious tension and division among Nigerians” he added

The lawyer urged the public to be tolerant of each other especially on issue of religion.

He accused the elites of fanning the embers of religious acrimony for their selfish interest. He described such an attitude as “unfortunate”.

He said, “My candid opinion is that we need to be more tolerant of each other especially on the delicate and hyper sensitive issue of religion

We must learn to accord mutual respect and understanding to each other on issues of religion for peace to reign in our nation

“In truth, it is we, the elites that are fanning the embers of religious acrimony in Nigeria for our selfish and ulterior motives

“The ordinary Nigerian Muslim and Christian, he is more focused on the practice of his faith

His main objective is to make heaven through obedience to the fundamentals of faith as expressed in the Holy Books

“He is less concerned let alone disturbed by the way the other person practices his religion

“The seed of religious discord is planted by the elites who manipulate it to gain Political or other gains of power. That is sad as it is unfortunate for nation”.