By Danzumi Ishaku
The Muslim Council of Nigeria, Taraba state chapter on Monday called for the immediate removal of the Secretary to the Taraba State Government (SSG) Mr Anthony Jellason openly coming out to declare that he hates Muslims and Islam.
At a Press briefing held at the council’s state secretariat in Jalingo, the executive secretary of the Muslim body Alh Muhammad Chindo condemned the actions of the SSG and said they were capable of precipitating crisis and furthering the depletion of the already fragile relationship between the two major religions in the state.
He therefore called for the immediate removal of the SSG to show to the Muslim Ummah I’m the state that his position does not reflect the position of the state government.
“The attention of the Muslim Council has been drawn to the audio recording between the secretary to the Taraba State government Mr Anthony Jellason and Sadiya Gombe, a female artist, making the rounds where the SSG Mr Jellason openly declared his hatred for the Muslim Ummah in the state and Islam in general. We find this hate speech very condemnable as it is capable of causing crisis and further causing division in the state.
“This speech is also contrary to his oath of office as a public office holder as enshrined in the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. This utterance is already stirring tension in the state and especially among the Muslim Ummah as it threatens the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the state. The council therefore condemn this in strong terms and call for the immediate removal of Mr Anthony Jellason as the SSG with immediate effect.”
In a reaction however, the SSG Mr Anthony Jellason said that he was misquoted by the lady who was on a mischief making mission.
Jellason said that the lady came to him that “she wanted to go and sing for me and I told her that I don’t like Hausa music. Is Hausa music now Islam and Muslim? That is what transpired. So that lady was clearly on a mission that would not lead her anywhere. In the first place, she came here and impersonated another female artist and collapsed here convulsing from the effects of drug overdose.
“It is also most unfortunate that the Muslim Council has fallen for this. They heard this allegations against me and did not even bother to hear from me before proceeding with this press briefing. Are they fair to me? There is no basis for any of these. We have freedom of speech and religion. I don’t expect anyone to force me to like what I don’t like at this age.”
