The group had in a statement on Monday, said there is nothing wrong with Igboho fleeing Nigeria because Moses ran away from Pharaoh and Prophet Muhammad fled his hometown to escape persecution.
Igboho is currently standing trial at the Cour De’appal De Cotonou, following his arrest at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, Benin Republic, on July 19.
He was declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS) after his Ibadan house was raided and he fled the country.
But Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), while reacting to the statement on Tuesday, stated that it is unacceptable for Afenifere to compare Igboho with Prophet Muhammad.
Ishaq Akintola, director of MURIC, said the circumstances that made Prophet Muhammad migrate are different from the travails of Igboho.
Akintola called on all Muslims supporting the course of Oodua Republic to withdraw their support.
“Muhammad was invited to Madinah by the Madinese whereas Igboho was not invited by the people of Cotonou. Muhammad was a prophet of God, Igboho is not. Muhammad’s constituency is the whole world while Igboho’s activities are restricted to south-western Nigeria,” he had said.
“It was therefore an exercise in excessive exaggeration for Afenifere to have compared Igboho to a universal prophet whose followers in their billions spread across all the continents and countries of the world.
“MURIC calls on all Yoruba Muslims who are supporting the Yoruba nation agenda to retrace their steps with immediate effect if indeed they believe in Allah and in Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet. We will not follow those who deride our prophet.”
However, in a press statement on Wednesday, Afenifere stressed that the reference made to Prophet Muhammad and Moses was in the context of their seeking refuge from persecution.
“We recall that Moses had to be taken away from the prying eyes of Pharaoh and his agents in Egypt. Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) too had to leave his hometown, Mecca for Medina in order to escape persecution. Thus, there is nothing wrong with Igboho seeking a respite first to preserve his life and perhaps to re-strategize,” Afenifere said.
“From the above, it could be seen that the reference made to the two Prophets, Moses and Muhammad (s.a.w) was in the context of seeking refuge from persecution. No reference whatsoever, in form of comparison, to the persons of the highly referred Prophets and Igboho as there was absolutely no reason for such.”
