A cross-section of chiefs at the press conference yesterday
A section of Muslim youth in Accra yesterday warned the Prang cleric Abu Fail Abdullahi Maikano not to come to Accra and preach as he has always done.
The charged youth assembled in their numbers at the Abossey Okai Central Mosque where a press conference was being held by the National Council of Zongo Chiefs and the Concerned Muslim Youth to respond to the Prang cleric’s challenge of the position of the National Chief Imam and solidarise with Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu in the face of what they described as ‘unprovoked attacks.’
The chiefs and youth expressed opprobrium at the cleric’s remarks that he does not recognize the office of the national chief imam something which they said smacked of mischief.
Reading the statement, the PRO of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, Alhaji Imoro Baba Issa, said: “We would discharge our civic responsibilities of supporting the law enforcement agency to protect the country’s peace by pressing the alarm button when that becomes necessary and by offering them critical intelligence.”
Touting the achievements of the National Chief Imam, he said he has elevated the status of Islam in the country and has been supportive of interfaith dialogue.
There have been a number of security breaches by angry youth following the Prang cleric’s remarks as they vow to deal with chiefs who allow him space in their areas to preach and show disrespect to the National Chief Imam.
“We would not allow Abu Fail to preach in Accra as these are opportunities he uses to rain insults on the National Chief Imam,” one of them told the media.
Continuing, he said “we expect the authorities to call him to order because we would not allow further disrespect to the Chief Imam by Abu Fail.”
After the press conference, the visibly angry youth vented their anger on the assembled chiefs who they said were not hard enough on Abu Fail.
They said they would advise themselves on the next line of action should the law enforcement agency and government not deal with the prevailing challenge sufficiently.
Asked what exactly they want government to do, the Vice-President having already charged the security agencies and the Council of Muslim Chiefs to deal with the situation, they responded “we want them to warn him to stay away from the Chief Imam.”
By A.R. Gomda