I have never stopped practicing Islam or being a Muslim – Muhammad Ali.

Ali was responding to his spiritual leader and leader of the Nation of Islam (formerly known as the Muslim brotherhood, an influential Islamic organization in the USA), Elijah Muhammad’s statement that his ban from Islam and the Muslim brotherhood has been lifted.

To understand the weight of this statement, you have to know how Ali became a Muslim, Cassius Clay secretly liked the Muslim brotherhood because of one its members Malcolm X(a black human right activist), and the news got around till it got to Elijah and the press, Elijah responded to it with the disdain because his teachings was against Clay’s profession(boxing), while the people(white) responded to it by almost cancelling the fight with Sonny Liston that will make Clay world champion but stopped because Clay neither denied nor confirmed it. Then clay won the fight and became world champion. Elijah and his brotherhood started courting him, trying so hard to make the latest world champion one of its members and because Clay was already in love with the organization, it was all too easy; Elijah’s son became Ali’s Manger while Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali. Ali did everything to please Elijah including moving to anywhere close to where Elijah lives and Fighting Malcolm X (because of whom he became a Muslim in the first place) who later had issues with Elijah. Till the Vietnam war came and Ali refused to enlist in the USA army, Ali was stripped of his title and lost loads of commercials. Ali was almost broke financially but what almost broke his spirit was when Elijah banned him from the Muslim brotherhood. It was a death blow that only a legend could survive and Ali did, holding up long enough to beat George foreman to become the champion again. Elijah after been pressured by his son declared Ali’s ban lifted and Ali responded as above. From then on the influence and acceptability of the Nation of Islam waned till nobody took noticed of their activities again…

Am writing this because CAN is on the same path as the Muslim brotherhood, CAN’s integrity has always being questioned since the Catholic church left the association and its reputation has came under more scrutiny under the leadership of Ayo oritsejafor especially during the last administration. Chidi Odinkalu former chairman of NHRC narrated an incident where he was almost run over by the CAN President’s convoy at the PLATEFORM(a program organized by the Covenant Christian Center) and we have all not forgotten the role pastor Ayo played in the Dollars for weapon transfer in South Africa.

What baffles me most is the political role of the opposition CAN has started playing in this Administration, CAN visited the Shia ( their activities is well documented) after their clash with the army and their leader arrested, ]even before the Muslim council made a statement about the issue and as soon as Kaduna state government ban public preaching, CAN took to the media instead of going to court, making all sorts of threats, the law’s main purpose can be seen in the case of the woman killed in Kano for blasphemy, CAN has also accused president Buhari of trying to Islamize the country and choosing the next CAN president.

CAN’s sudden tactics of trying to use political solutions for legal problems was recently exported to Osun state.
Justice Jide Falola gave a judgment in a case filled by a Muslim association against the state’s Governor and the state ministry of education for banning the use of Hijab with CAN and its lawyer joining the case without being mentioned. The Judge ruled that female Muslims should be allowed to use their hijab as its part of their fundamental human right quoting a law that was passed in 2004 and citing a similar case in Ilorin, after the judgment, CAN said it will appeal the case which is the legal and logical thing to do.

Only for CAN to issue a statement after its meeting saying that hell will break loose if governor Aregbesola should implement the court’s ruling and Rauf who has already earned the reputation of the governor that cannot pay salaries refused to also become the governor that disobeys court orders. so CAN start applying a political balm to their legal burns by taking Aregbesola to the Media, Making all sorts of allegation against the governor. I will like to know who and what was said at the meeting that turned CAN intelligent idea of appealing to the rubbish they are currently doing.
Instead of going after Judge Falola and the constitution he interpreted, CAN decide to play to the gallery.

Justice Falola’s judgment has always been one for the news, he was the one who sentenced two men to death for stealing yam and sent the man that stole Rauf’s phone to 45 years imprisonment. It would have been very easy to go after the judge, his Judgment and the constitution rather than the nuisance CAN constitutes in Osun state.


CAN’s action can be liken to that of Muslim parent who went to the media when Bishop Oyedapo refuse to release their wards for the Eld Kabir festival despite the federal government proclaiming the days as national holidays, It was foolishness on the part of the parents because you know the Vision, Mission and values of Covenant University before taking your wards there. So why cry foul when the school matches it words with action. The Muslim council rightfully ignored them.

Thankfully CAN now has a new leader, it is up to this new leader to restore CAN’s integrity, so that all Nigerians will once again respect CAN’s words and actions because even Christians now doubt CAN’s motives and question their continues existence. If adequate steps are not taking, CAN’s influence will be stories of yesterday like that of the Muslim Brotherhood.

This is good for History.