The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has strongly condemned recent statements made by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), accusing Senator Opeyemi Bamidele of demolishing a mosque in Aramoko Ekiti, Ekiti State, to make way for a constituency market project.
Afenifere, through its Ekiti State Chairman, Gabriel Alonge, described the claims as “unfounded” and warned that they could potentially ignite religious conflict in the state and the South-West region.
In a recent press statement, Akintola alleged that Bamidele had ordered the demolition of a mosque in Aramoko Ekiti to pave the way for the construction of the Alara Modern Market. Akintola further accused Bamidele of targeting Muslims in the area. He questioned how a political figure of Bamidele’s stature could engage in such an act against Muslims.
However, Afenifere dismissed these accusations, asserting that they were baseless and potentially harmful to the peaceful coexistence of the people of Ekiti State. The group urged security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to scrutinize Akintola’s comments, which they believe could stir religious tensions in the region.
Afenifere also conducted its own investigation into the claims. Their findings revealed that Senator Bamidele had been instrumental in the reconstruction of the Alara Modern Market, which was inaugurated on March 28, 2025. The market, consisting of 60 open shops and 40 lock-up shops, was officially handed over to the Alara-in-Council and the Ekiti West Local Government—the original owners of the property.
Additionally, Afenifere emphasized that the Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alfa Raheem Bamigbola, had even offered the opening prayer at the market’s inauguration, further disproving Akintola’s allegations.
Alonge expressed concern that MURIC’s statements were part of a deliberate attempt to destabilize Ekiti, especially following recent discussions about establishing a Shariah arbitration panel in parts of the South-West. He reiterated that the South-West had enjoyed relative peace and stability, and Afenifere was committed to protecting this status.
In a related development, the Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Moses Omojola, also rejected Akintola’s claims, calling them “false, malicious, and a gross misrepresentation of the facts.” Omojola clarified that the land for the market project had been allocated to Bamidele by the Alara-in-Council and the local government, and the structure referred to as a mosque was in fact an incomplete, unauthorized building that lacked official documentation or approval as a mosque.
Omojola criticized MURIC’s attempt to inflame religious sentiments and undermine the credibility of the Senator, noting that Bamidele’s development efforts were inclusive and aimed at benefiting all residents, irrespective of faith.
Afenifere concluded by urging MURIC to exercise caution and verify their claims before making public statements, stressing that divisive rhetoric had no place in the region, which had long been known for its peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds.
