Vice Chairman of the Muslim Caucus in Parliament, Alhaji Yusif Suleman, has accused Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama, Chairman of the Caucus, of using the group to pursue a personal political agenda.
Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Mahama allegedly issued a press release in the name of the association without following the proper procedure.
The release was in response to statements by the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, who accused Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of religious hypocrisy.
In a statement on Thursday, November 9, MP for Bole Bamboi and Chairman of the Muslim Caucus, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana disclaimed the press release stating that it was Farouk’s personal endeavor and did not reflect the views of the Caucus.
He stated, “The said press release is the personal and self-serving effusions of Farouk and does not represent any communication from the Association.”
He emphasized that decisions within the Caucus are made collectively during General or Emergency Meetings and that this particular statement was not approved through proper channels.
He accused Farouk Aliu Mahama of a selective stance on religious issues.
He questioned Farouk’s silence when Vice President Bawumia, in the presence of the National Chief Imam, made remarks regarding the Quran and called out his apparent double standards.
“Where was Farouk when H.E. Dr Bawumia, in the presence of the National Chief Imam, mocked H.E. John Dramani Mahama for simply referring to a Sura in the Quran? Was that behaviour by Dr. Bawumia appalling, reprehensible, terrible, offensive, discriminatory, and unfair? Such hypocrisy and unprincipled stands must not be injected into the activities of the Muslim Caucus,” he stressed.
Alhaji Yusif Sulemana also pointed out instances where Farouk Aliu Mahama allegedly declined to support statements issued by the Muslim Caucus.
“As the Chair of the Caucus, when we tried to issue a statement calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza strip in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, didn’t Farouk refuse to avail himself to support the statement? Was it because that statement will not yield any political benefits for Farouk and his paymasters,” he queried.
He challenged his Chairman to focus on the substantive issues concerning the Muslim community rather than engaging in divisive politics.
He cautioned him against provoking further tensions within the Caucus stating, “Farouk must not provoke us to dig into his religious background.
