Muslim group, gives Falz 7days to withdraw his music video, This is Nigeria

Nigerian music star, Falz, whose ‘This is Nigeria’ music video which captured some iills that has befallen Nigeria as a country went viral some days ago, has suffered some knocks as a Muslim group, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have asked him to withdraw his ‘This is Nigeria’ video and apologize to Nigerians, or face legal action.

Recall that some girls dressed in hijab were seen dancing the “shaku shaku” dance in the video.  However after he was criticized for the stunt, Falz explained that the girls were a representation ofthe abducted Chibok girls still in Boko Haramcaptivity. However in a statement by Ishaq Akintola, MURIC’s Director,  the group claimed the dancers in the video in no way depict the situation of the girls.

They also condemned “a character that dressed like a Fulani man, who suddenly abandoned his traditional guitar and beheaded a man” featured in the video.The Muslim Group who described the video as “thoughtless, insensitive and highly provocative,” and could brew religious and ethnic crisis. According to them, the video is spiteful and intended to denigrate Islam and Muslims.

The statement reads;“MURIC rejects Falz’ explanation that the girls in hijab in his ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance symbolize the Chibok girls because nothingin the video indicates that the girls represent the Chibok girls,” the statement read.“At least none of the Chibok girls have been seen dancing like a drunkard. They are always in pensive mood. Do they have any cause to be dancing? Are they happy?“The video manifests ethnic bias against Fulanis while it ignored the criminal activities of ethnic militia of the Middle Belt who have also massacred Fulanis and rustled their cattle in their thousands.“It is a hate video.

This video has the potential of causing religious crisis of unprecedented dimension.“It is an assault on the self-dignity of every Muslim. It is freedom of expression gone haywire.“We therefore demand its withdrawal and an apology to Nigerian Muslims within sevendays or the authors and their agents will face legal action if they fail to comply.“Only the scenes portraying police brutality and the money-swallowing snake in the video arenear the truth.”The group called on security agencies and the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to clamp down on the video.

“We call the attention of security agencies to this hate action,” the statement continued.“We remind Nigeriansof the outcome of similar provocative actions in the past and their unpalatable outcomes.“The National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), a regulatory agency setup by Act No. 85 of 1993 to regulate filmsand the video industry has a case toanswer. ‘Shaku Shaku’ video was shot and released under its watch.“Instead of going violent, Nigerian Muslims should take those behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video to court in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

“We therefore give notice of impending legal action against the artist behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video unless the latter is withdrawn and an apology is widely published within seven days.”