An invitation to a political meeting in Abuja is currently generating ripples among members of the Muslim Youth of the South west of Nigeria.
Very reliable sources hinted our correspondent that the Presidency had contacted Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state of his interest to talk to the Muslim Youth after previous attempts to meet with the Muslim leaders of South West had failed.
It would be recalled that an arrangement two Sundays ago to meet with the Yoruba Muslim leaders under the aegis of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) was rebuffed.
This, sources say, was because the Muslim leaders are apprehensive of being accused of taking money from the President which they fear may create bad blood within the Muslim community.
Mimiko, an arrow head of Jonathan’s campaign in the Southwest, assigned the job of mobilising the Muslim Youth to his junior brother, Dr Abbas Mimiko, who is a celebrated Islamic activist.
Dr Abbas Mimiko, our correspondent learnt, further contacted Sirajudeen Abdulazeez, the National President of Muslim Students ‘Society of Nigeria (MSSN), who incidentally lives in Akure.
Sources further revealed that an executive meeting of MSSN called by Abdulazeez in Akure to sell the idea to his members went awry as members kicked against such idea.
Those who are at the meeting said that most members reminded him that such invitation had been refused by both the apex Islamic body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and MUSWEN and wondered why the youths should be considered for the invitation.
They reasoned that an alleged N7 billion gift to the Christian counterpart, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by the president is already causing rancour among the Christian community.
However, sources said that despite the threat by the members of the National Executive Council of MSSN to pass a vote of no confidence on its National President over the matter, he was not ready to give up.
Instead, he has allegedly contacted some other Muslim Youth in the South West, such as the leadership of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), NASFAT, Ansar Ud- Deen and Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).
Meanwhile, the B –Zone wing of MSSN are expected to hold a zonal conference in Ibadan over the weekend where a vote of no confidence might be passed on the National President.
Confirming the incident, Ishaq Sanni, Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo state and a member of the board of trustee of MUSWEN, said he was aware of the development and assured that Muslim leaders in the Southwest led by Professor Dawud Noibi have waded into the issue.
Sanni assured the Muslim community in Oyo state that no Muslim youth in the state would attend any meeting with the President because of the possibility of being blackmailed of monetary inducement to favour a particular candidate.
Abdulazeez has however, denied receiving any invitation from any quarters to mobilise Muslim youth for any meeting.
In a telephone conversation, Abdulazeez confirmed , however, that Dr Abbas Mimiko, is a personal friend and they both see each other regularly in Akure where they both reside.
“But let me ask you, when has it been a crime in MSSN constitution for any President of MSSN to attend a meeting or honour an invitation?
“Let me say that all these allegations are spurious and untrue. It is a fabricated lie. We shall all meet in Ibadan over the weekend and Allah will punish those spreading these falsehood,” he said.
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