Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have vowed to continue with their protests till their leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky is freed.
A statement signed by Abdullahi Muhammad Musa on behalf of the Academic, Sisters’ and Abul-Fadl Forums of the IMN movement discountenanced a statement by the Media Forum that the Shiites movement had suspended its protests.
“First of all, we would like to state for the record that apart from members of the media forum none of us was informed of this prior to seeing it in the papers and online.
“Secondly, the media forum of the Islamic Movement is supposed to consist of Press men and thus has no involvement in the organizing of our ceremonies, our protests or legal activities among others. Thirdly, no decision of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has ever been communicated on the page of a newspaper.
“Contrary to what the statement may insinuate; it is important to note that the proscription order was not an act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but rather from some Federal High Court in the capital Abuja. Bear in mind that courts do not make laws, the National Assembly does; and there is a process involved. Under the Constitution even the president lacks the legal authority to simply pronounce edicts into law; Nigeria is not an absolute monarchy. Most preeminently, the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Impunity is not.
“The statement signed by Malam Ibrahim Musa of the media forum does not, in any way, reflect the beliefs and convictions of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. A single representative of a Forum within the Islamic Movement has no authority to single-handedly dictate his opinion on every one of us. Only our leader Sheikh Zakzaky may do that.
“For this reason, we are compelled to caution the media to never treat, any further, such explicit declarations by any member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in general, and Ibrahim Musa in particular, without a grain of salt. We wish to also explicitly state that we are fully determined to continue our protests. We shall continue our peaceful protests, uninterrupted and unhindered till our leader Sheikh Zakzaky is free, for as long as it takes, regardless of obstacles. Until Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is Free, our protests will continue.
