The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), to wait for 2027 if he is interested in becoming Nigeria’s vice president.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, said this while reacting to Dachomo’s recent claim that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria because President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are Muslims.
Dachomo had said in an interview, “Shettima is a Muslim, the president is a Muslim. Is that not complete genocide to Christians in the political world? The way forward is to remove Shettima and I stand on it.”
In its response, MURIC accused the cleric of being consumed by “hyperbolic articulation,” describing his comments as extreme and exaggerated.
The organisation said, “A new twist was thrown into the Christian genocide debate… when Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo exploded on national television alleging that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is equal to Christian genocide.”
MURIC labelled his remarks emotive, explosive and kindergarten, adding that they undermine democracy, due process and the judicial rulings that upheld the 2023 election.
It added, “How can anyone suggest the removal of the vice president who emerged from a free, fair and credible election? If Dachomo wants to be the vice president of Nigeria, he must follow the well-known democratic process. He must wait for 2027.”
The group also criticised what it called Dachomo’s dramatisation and sensationalism, saying he sees “Muslim-Muslim ticket… in his wardrobe, in television studios and, of course, in the mythical Christian genocide.”
MURIC recalled the 2018 case of Major-General Mohammed Idris Alkali, saying protesters attempted to mislead soldiers searching for the missing officer before he was eventually found dead in a well.
The organisation accused some groups of using mass psychosis, entitlement mentality, and false claims to push a political agenda, adding that recent noise about Christian genocide is really about contesting political power.
MURIC also praised Christians who rejected such narratives, saying many spoke out boldly because they knew the truth.
The statement called for unity among Nigerians: “Let us come together to rescue our land from ruthless killers and mindless kidnappers.”
MURIC also advised Reverend Dachomo to tone down his rhetoric, saying religious leaders should model responsible behaviour.