MURIC CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING FOR CHRIST

14^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING FOR CHRIST

Nine Muslim children who had been kidnapped, converted to Christianity and sold into slavery were rescued by the Kano Police Command on Friday, 11^th October, 2019. The children were abducted in Kano and taken to Onitsha in Anambra State.

The abduction has been condemned by an Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 14^th October, 2019. In its most recent press release, MURIC described the latest discovery as nauseating, wicked and reprehensible.

“Kidnappers have taken over the house of God. The phenomenon of kidnapping for Christ has now rented the air. We are shocked to our marrows. It is the height of acrobatic religiousity, gymnastic spirituality and paradoxical criminality. It is such a big shame that some Christian fanatics will live among us only for the purpose of abducting our children, converting them to Christianity and selling them into slavery. Kidnapping for Christ is disgusting, nauseating, wicked and reprehensible.

“We see it as an extension of the ‘Nigeria for Christ’ slogan. Christian evangelists are no longer satisfied with their illegal taking over of commercial vehicles where they scream over the heads of peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians going or coming from work. The overnight vigils where they raise noise level beyond 100 decibels are not enough for them.  

“They are now stealing our children as the latter emerge from their Islamiyyah schools. Why do they hate us so much? Why do they pretend to be our neighbours? An open declaration of hostilities would have been better because it would have alerted us to the fact that we are living in the midst of foes.

“Nonetheless, MURIC will not allow emotion to becloud its intervention in this sensitive and ugly development. We are aware that not all Christians are involved in this criminal behavior. Many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving. Such Christians will never decend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children.

“We therefore appeal to Muslims throughout the federation to dispassionately separate the wheat from the chaff. This Kano 9 incident should not be allowed to generate animosity between them and their Christian neighbours. Neither should it ignite spontaneous attacks on non-indigenes in Muslim majority areas.

“Nonetheless, MURIC charges Muslim parents to be security conscious particularly around their children. Mallams in charge of Islamiyyah schools and madrasahs all over Nigeria are urged to do head-counting before the commencement of classes and immediately after. Muslim children should be given security tips. For instance, movement in groups should be encouraged while residents should heighten their vigilance.”

MURIC blamed the phenomenon of abduction for Christ on aggressive proselytisation.

“This kind of abduction can be traced to Christian aggressive proselytization in Nigeria. Nigerian Christians take preaching like war. The firebrand evangelists take over commercial vehicles. It is only in Nigeria that people preach inside buses and distract the attention of drivers.

“Such arrant nonsense is not allowed in saner climes but in Nigeria, once one Christian starts this abnormal thing inside a commercial bus, others encourage him by clapping and singing along with him whether or not there are Muslims in the same vehicle. It is total disregard for social decorum and aggravated assault on civilized behavior.  

The organization also argued that the Kano 9 imbroglio could not have been the first.

“We have every reason to contend that the Kano 9 imbroglio is not the first. The systematic abduction of Muslim children has been going on long before 2014. These Christian kidnappers are methodical and meticulous. They study the environment for some time and plan their escape routes with microscopic accuracy.

“The Kano 9 were just lucky to have been found. Thousands have disappeared without trace. There must be other criminal syndicates like those caught recently. The identities of Muslim kids are changed once they are abducted. They are then given Christian names and sold away to human traffickers and ritualists. It is another angle to the crusade against Muslims and it changes the narrative.

“MURIC holds firebrand Christian clerics who preach hate in their churches responsible for this onslaught against Muslims and their children. Our mosques are being demolished. Our children are being kidnapped and forcefully converted to Christianity.

“School authorities lock out Muslim children on account of ordinary head scarf. The Muslim girl-child suffers daily from the illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and blatant impunity of Christian school officials. Muslims have become endangered species in Nigeria. Oh God! What have we done to deserve this?

“We appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate security around Islamiyyah schools and protect Muslim children from Christian abductors. The Kano 9 culprits must face the full wrath of the law. There must be no cover-up.

“They work in syndicates. Efforts must be made to apprehend other Christian groups targeting Muslim children for abduction. Security agents should beam their searchlights on night buses leaving the cities, particularly northern and South Western cities where Muslim population is thick. Good Christians should reject and expose the bad eggs among them in the same way that mainstream Muslims rejected and exposed Boko Haram.  

MURIC also mocked some activists and the rest of civil society for being selective.

“We are miffed by the attitude of some members of civil society and human rights activists. They raise hell and brimstone when a single Christian is involved in what looks like a denial but look the other way when thousands of Muslims are deprived. This is selective activism. It is sheer playing to the gallery.

“Nigerians will recall the hullabaloo that followed the Ese Oruru saga in March 2016. Where are the advocates of girl-child rights who nearly brought down the ceilings of heaven over a mere case of elopement? Where are the human rights lawyers today?

Who will defend the poor, innocent Muslim children now that our human rights lawyers have elected to press the mute button on their remote controls? Why have the Nobel prize winners maintained a deafening silence over the persecution of hijab-wearing students in the South West?

“The hijab controversy has been raging in the South West for over three years now and they are yet to find their voice. They have refused to speak up for millions of female Muslim children who have been repressed, depressed and oppressed. Many of them have been forced out of school and our human rights activists believe it is business as usual. We affirm that double standards have the capacity to diminish credibility. Nigerians should know them for what they are the next time they speak again.   

“On the foreign scene, we are not surprised that the question on the lips of President Donald Trump is always ‘Why are you killing Christians in Nigeria?’ Trump will never ask, ‘Why are you persecuting Muslim girls in Nigeria?’ As the arrow head of Christian crusade against Muslims all over the world, we jog Trump’s conscience on the travails of the Muslim girl-child in South West Nigeria.

“We call on justice-loving Americans to speak up. We appeal to the United Nations to check the violation of Allah-given fundamental right of the Nigerian Muslim girl-child to the dignity of her human person and the manifestation of her personal identity as a Muslim.

“In our closing remarks, we strongly denounce kidnapping in the name of Christ. We urge the police to prosecute those arrested over the Kano 9 pallaver. We also appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate protection for Islamiyyah school children.

“Finally, we charge the UN to check the infringements against the Nigerian Muslim girl-child. We urge Nigerian Muslims to regard abductors of the Kano 9 as the black sheep in Christiandom who do not in any way represent Nigerian Christians as a corporate whole. The good Muslims and good Christians should therefore expose the evil ones and continue to peacefully coexist in the interest of the Nigerian project.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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JONATHAN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK FIASCO

11^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

JONATHAN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK FIASCO

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was recently in the news again as former British Prime Minister David Cameron accused him of frustrating the attempt of British special forces to rescue the abducted Chibok girls. It will be recalled that 276 Chibok girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on 15^th April, 2014. The abduction remains a mystery till date. Jonathan has rejected the allegation claiming he made several efforts to secure help from Britain and other countries.

However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected Jonathan’s defence. The Islamic human rights group based its rejection on the ex-president’s initial hesitation to take action after the abduction occurred. In a press statement circulated to the media on Friday, 11^th October, 2019, by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization demanded an apology from Jonathan.

“We reject Jonathan’s alibi. We take it with a pinch of salt. It is a cock and bull story. We are not actually basing our rejection on David Cameron’s revelation, rather we are looking at Jonathan’s reaction ab initio. The letters he claimed to have written to foreign powers to seek help were mere afterthoughts. He should tell the marines.  

“Jonathan should explain to us why he put the totality of the Nigerian defence architecture to sleep for 21 days after the abduction. He politicized the issue instead of springing to action. He refused to give orders to the military to go after the kidnappers. Instead, he called the kidnap story a ruse designed to discredit his administration. He said it never occurred.

“So Jonathan should leave the Cameron angle aside. Cameron was far away in NO. 10 Downing Street when the hoodlums kidnapped our girls. Jonathan was right here in Aso Rock, wining and dining and refusing to act while Madam Patience Jonathan was trying to puncture the veracity of the incident with her ‘diaris God oooo’.

“Had Jonathan sprang to action immediately after the abduction like a real Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the calamity would have been reversed but he delayed action until it was too late. His lackadaisical approach in those crucial moments allowed the insurgents to dig in. He gave Boko Haram an excruciatingly painful 21-day respite which enabled them to take the innocent girls deep into the forest. It was a serious dereliction of duty and an indubitably impeachable offence in a proactive parliamentary democracy. Unfortunately our lawmakers were on sabbatical”

MURIC asked the ex-president to apologise to Nigerians.

“The best Jonathan can do now is to apologise to Nigerians for the Chibok debacle. Jonathan should just swallow his pride and eat the humble pie. There are no two ways to it. An unreserved apology is what Nigerians are expecting and we will keep pounding the ex-president until he does the needful.

“We are concerned because that abduction emboldened the insurgents, exposed our underbelly and endangered Nigerian citizens to more criminalities. It was a huge blow to our security apparatus. Whatever threatens the safety and security of lives and properties of Nigerians must attract the interest of every serious civil society group. The Chibok incident opened the floodgate to the frequent kidnappings in the country today.”

The group also appealed to President Buhari to double government’s efforts to rescue the girls from captivity.

“We strongly appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to double government’s efforts aimed at securing the freedom of the Chibok girls. It is now five and a half years since these girls were taken away. We are in grief. Our nights are nightmarish. Horrible fears envelope our days. Please bring back our girls.”

MURIC urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers for both the Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.

“We urge Nigerians to intensify their prayers for the safe return of the Chibok girls. We must also remember Leah Sharibu, the lone Christian girl who was denied freedom by the insurgents.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CHIDES UI SCHOOL FOR SUSPENDING IKHLAS

7^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CHIDES UI SCHOOL FOR SUSPENDING IKHLAS

Miss Ikhlas Olasubomi Badiru, an hijab-wearing student of International School (ISI) of the University of Ibadan (UI) was last week suspended on account of her hijab. The suspension order was handed down by the school principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe. The letter of suspension was dated 26^th September and signed by the school principal.

Reacting to the school’s action, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organization, has described it as superfluous, preposterous and provocative. MURIC spoke through its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 7^th October, 2019.

“This suspension is one too many. It is superfluous, preposterous and provocative. The authorities of International School Ibadan are overdoing it. The suspension smarks of kindergarten intellect. It is as clear as daylight that the school principal has very poor crisis management skill and she manifests desertification of damage control techniques.

“We call on Nigerians to note what is happening in ISI. Muslim children are being stigmatized just for wearing an ordinary head scarf, not for engaging in cultism or for cheating in examinations. This same hijab is allowed in British schools. It is used in Sweden, Finland and all over Europe, America embraced it long ago. Interestingly these are countries where the percentage of Muslim population is infinitesimally low.

“Yet in Nigeria where Muslim population is higher and Muslims cannot be said to be a minority, Muslim children are being tyrannically profiled. Islamophobia is the order of the day. Surprisingly, Muslims have not reacted in anger. They are exhibiting civilized behavior to deal with the situation.

“MURIC is watching the unfolding scenario with keen interest. Here is the peak of hypocrisy as those who claim to be defending the girl child against abuse, those who claim to be promoting girl-child education are the same people locking out the girl-child from educational institutions simply because they are Muslims.

“We affirm clearly, emphatically and categorically that a girl-child is a girl-child no matter her religion. Her creed does not change her sex. Neither does it change her age. The hijab on her head preserves the dignity of her human person and any attempt to force her to remove it constitutes a criminal assault on her honour and an infringement on Section 38 (i) and (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We warn that the criminalisation of hijab has reached its crescendo and the bubble may burst any moment from now. We call on UI authorities to take full charge of the situation before it is too late. UI cannot abdicate its responsibilities and still remain a citadel of learning and a center of excellence. It is the height of religious intolerance. Both UI and ISI are swarming with Christian fanatics and Muslim haters at management level. It is nauseating and that is to say the least.

“Does it not amount to contempt of court for the principal to hand down a suspension order while the case is in a court of competent jurisdiction? Is this not another act of impunity? Olowe has crossed the red line. Like Macbeth, Olowe has murdered sleep. She shall sleep no more.

“Olowe has goaded us to take the hijab saga in ISI to the next level. We must move beyond mere rhetorics. From this moment, MURIC is charging all Muslim students in UI to embark on non-violent civil disobedience actions in defence of their sister, Ikhlas.

“We hereby declare Friday, 11^th October, 2019, Ikhlas Day. The slogan of the day is ‘Suspend One, Suspend All. ‘I am Ikhlas’. That day is for peaceful demonstrations in and around UI in solidarity with our sister, Ikhlas Olasubomi Badiru. All members of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in and around Ibadan and the Oyo State chapter of MURIC are hereby mobilized to join their brothers and sisters in UI on that day. It is now or never. It is just a warning shot and we hope those who have ears will hear.

The human rights organization also hailed Muslim lecturers and administrative staff of UI for supporting the female Muslim students of ISI.

“MURIC strongly commends Muslim lecturers and other Muslim staff of UI for condemning the university’s Islamophobic stance. We urge them to continue to exhibit solidarity in loco parentis to the oppressed female Muslim students of ISI. They must register their strong opposition to the attempt to rename UI as Christian University, Ibadan (CUI). We assert that UI must remain UI, not CUI.

“As we round off, we warn ISI to stop escalating the crisis. The suspension of Ikhlas must be lifted. UI authorities must stop all Islamophobic actions and move against the persecution of innocent female Muslim students of ISI. We can only know the beginning of crisis, no one can predict its features or its end. Even without using violence, the hijab imbroglio in ISI is capable of shuting down UI and enveloping the city of Ibadan. MURIC does not issue threats but nobody has the monopoly of impunity.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

MURIC MOURNS S. O. BABALOLA

2^nd October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC MOURNS S. O. BABALOLA

The death has been announced of Alhaji (Chief) Sakariyau O. Babalola, a Lagos based business mogul and well-known Muslim leader. He was aged 87.

According to a statement issued by Professor Ishaq Akintola on behalf of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Wednesday, 2^nd October, 2019, Alhaji Babalola was, until his death, the president of the Muslim Ummah of South West of Nigeria (MUSWEN).

MURIC added, “He was also the Vice President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The deceased was a committed Muslim who spent the greater part of his life promoting the religion of Islam.

Babalola was a lover of young Nigerians and he empowered many economically. An industrialist of great repute, he was a strong believer in hardwork, dignity and honesty. He was also a disciplinarian of no small measure.

Popularly known as ‘SOB’, Alhaji S. O. Babalola was a sociable personality in the 70s and 80s and Fuji musicians waxed records in his praise. Alhaji Babalola was a popular philanthropist who rescued thousands of poor Nigerians from poverty. To his credit were several chieftaincy titles.

He was kind-hearted, humane and pious. Alhaji Babalola was visionary and he encouraged his close associates to plan for the future. He was the most popular and dynamic Muslim leader in the South West. Nigerian Muslims will miss him.

MURIC mourns Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola with nostalgia. Reminiscences of his action-packed interactions with us at meetings, conferences and long trips flash intermittently in our minds. He was an incomparable father and mentor. Our hearts bleed.

Alhaji Babalola was succeeded by many children, among them was Remi Babalola, a former minister.

May Almighty Allah overlook his trespasses, widen his grave and make his Qiyamah and Al-Akhirah (Resurrection and Hereafter) events of joy for him. May Allah continue to protect and bless all he left behind.  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC

APOLOGISE TO PANTAMI: MURIC TELLS KWANKWASO

2^nd October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

APOLOGISE TO PANTAMI: MURIC TELLS KWANKWASO

Following a mob action by members of the Kwankwasiyyah Movement against Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami, on Monday, 23^rd September, 2019 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, a social media platform had averred that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the movement had visited the minister and apologized. But a reliable source close to the minister yesterday denied that such a visit did not occur.

In a followup statement issued on Wednesday, 2^nd October, 2019, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) chided the social media source for misleading the public. MURIC also demanded unreserved apology from Senator Kwankwaso in the spirit of sportsmanship. The statement was signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director of the organization.

“The least that is expected of Senator Kwankwaso is to apologise to Dr. Isa Ali Pantami for the unruly behavior of his followers. This is what Nigerians expect of him as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Only an unreserved apology can prove to Nigerians that he is an honourable politician and not a promoter of political violence.

“Those who operate in the hallowed red chamber must serve as good examples for the citizens, particularly the youth and under no circumstances must they be found promoting a culture of political violence. It is also the only way new blood, particularly new female politicians can be attracted into politics because political violence has been one of the major cassu belli which kept brilliant young men and women away from politics.

“Besides, MURIC is concerned because the two dramatis personae involved in this incident are Muslims. We therefore remind Senator Kwankwaso to see himself as a Muslim politician and, consequently, follow the good example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) particularly his style of leadership in Madinah.”   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE: BUHARI’S GOVT BEST SINCE INDEPENDENCE - MURIC

1^st October, 2019

          

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE:

BUHARI’S GOVT BEST SINCE INDEPENDENCE - MURIC 

As Nigeria marks its 59^th independence anniversary, an Islamic human rights organization has identified the Buhari administration as the best since independence. Making this assertion is the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in its independence day message signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola and circulated to the media on Tuesday, 1^st October, 2019.

According to the group, while it is generally agreed that corruption is Nigeria’s numero uno problem, it is only the current administration that has frontally addressed this dangerous cankerworm while President Muhammadu Buhari has been the only ruler who has boldly confronted it.

“We adjudge the Buhari administration as the best in post-independence Nigeria. Everyone agrees that corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s development. All other factors are peripheral but corruption is tangential. This implies that Nigeria will overcome all its challenges once corruption has been reduced to its barest minimum.

“This explains why President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistently consistent in tackling graft since his days as military head of state (1983-85) till today. Apart from the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), the period heralded transparency, probity and accountability in the public sphere.  

“Unfortunately corrupt elements in society have also been fighting tooth and nail to frustrate his efforts. These include, but are not limited to, rapaciously greedy civil servants, a superfluously voracious business class and avariciously glutonous politicians.

“They were behind the 1985 coup which ousted the no-nonsense Buhari-Idiagbon regime. That coup was an anti-people action sponsored by established kleptomaniacs and executed by greedy, corrupt and overambitious elements in the military. That singular action also returned Nigeria to the path of unbridled waste, reckless graft and undiluted consumerism.

“Unfortunately the second coming of President Buhari in 2015 as a civilian president was almost castrated as the National Assembly was hijacked from the very beginning courtesy of ‘sarakitisation’ and ‘dogaratisation’ of parliamentary process. The president himself nearly lost his life.

“Notwithstanding this setback, Nigeria is currently witnessing the most massive infrastructural development ever experienced since independence. Roads which have been abandoned for decades are now getting attention. Modern rail system is springing up in many parts of the country.

“Prudent management of resources has been a major characteristic of this administration. Looted funds were recovered and are still being recovered. The current administration plugged all known financial leakages by boldly implementing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which past regimes hesitated to touch. External reserves which dwindled under other leaders have been rising steadily since the beginning of this administration despite low oil price.  

“Accumulated arrears of workers salaries and pensions running into billions of naira were settled by this administration. This included accumulated contractors’ debts such that all major contractors are now back to site. Biafran veterans were paid off. Arrears of pensions of police, railway workers, etc which had been ignored for decades were settled.

“All these were made possible because the leadership is transparent. The funds being used for developmental projects today have always been there but they have always been shared in the past among a corrupt few at the expense of development. For these gargantuan achievements, we declare President Muhammadu Buhari as the Father of Modern Nigeria.

“In spite of rising incidents of killings and kidnappings, we affirm that this regime has paid more attention to security of lives than any other. Whereas no recruitments took place for over ten years before President Buhari took over, this regime has recruited more than 30,000 policemen since 2015.

“While Boko Haram occupied about 17 local governments in Borno State prior to 2015, the insurgent group has been reduced to a hit and run guerilla outfit under the present administration. Also, although the insurgents scored direct hits with heavy casualties in Kano and Abuja before 2015, it has been most effectively confined to the North East since that period.

“MURIC is constrained to assert that Nigerians are the ones hurting fellow Nigerians. For instance, government has no hand in the arbitrary inflation of transport fare during rushing hours. Neither is kidnapping which brings untold suffering to families being carried out by foreigners. Those who kidnap Nigerians are fellow Nigerians. We urge all citizens to be their brothers’ keepers. Nigerians also need to have a change of mindset. Nigerian youth must eschew greed and materialism to embrace hardwork, honesty and integrity.

“MURIC appeals to patriotic Nigerians to rally behind the present administration in its war against corruption and graft. Only thus can the good works be sustained and Nigeria lifted to the category of the world’s developed countries. As a leader who has lived a prudent lifestyle throughout his life, as the only Nigerian president who has no foreign account, no accumulated properties and no stolen funds traced to him, President Buhari deserves the support of Nigerians.

“Before taking a break, MURIC congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian citizenry on the occasion of the country’s 59^th independence anniversary. In view of the unprecedented achievements of the Buhari administration listed above, we affirm clearly, categorically and unambiguously that the Buhari administration has been the best since independence while President Muhammadu Buhari himself is the best president Nigeria has ever had.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC

MURIC SLAMS OPPOSITION FOR HARRASSING PANTAMI

30^th September, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC SLAMS OPPOSITION FOR HARRASSING PANTAMI

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami, was mobbed on Monday, 23^rd September, 2019. The incident occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. The minister was in Kano for a condolence visit over the death of Ibrahim Liman Sharada, father of a member of the House of Representatives representing Kano Municipal, Shaaban Sharada when hoodlums of the Kwankwasiyyah movement began to boo him. One of the thugs even attempted to remove the minister’s cap.

Reacting to the ugly incident, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described the attack as unruly, uncultured, puerile and barbaric. MURIC spoke through its leader, Professor Ishaq Akintola in a press statement issued on Monday, 30^th September, 2019.

“The harassment of Dr. Isa Ali Pantami at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is repugnant, detestable and provocative. It is most unruly, highly uncultured, totally puerile and categorically barbaric. Nigeria should be above this. At 59, Nigerians still engage in bolekaja politics. It is a big shame. Our post-independence political culture is still characterised with violence, bitterness, intimidation and coercion. Our politics is laced with heavy doses of intolerance. Ours is politics of retrogression. It is unacceptable.

“We commend Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for visiting the minister and for offering an apology for the excesses of his followers. Nonetheless, the fact that his political party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to show remorse leaves much to be desired.

“In saner climes, the political party would have issued a statement dissociating itself from any unethical behavior and apologizing for same. We therefore call on PDP Kano chapter to do the needful. Anything short of a public apology over this infantile and highly embarrassing incident is an assault on civilized political decorum. Nigeria must move from Stone Age political gangsterism.

“MURIC appeals to the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to take the incident with equanimity. APC Kano must manifest political maturity by resisting the temptation to revenge. The fact that Senator Kwankwaso has established rapour with the minister should serve as a soothing balm for members of the APC in Kano State.

“Dr. Ali Isa Pantami deserves tons of respect from every Nigerian. He is one of the few citizens who have engraved Nigeria’s name in letters of gold on the sands of time. His rich and intimidating curriculum vitae stands him out from the crowd of political shenanigans and opportunistic parasites. Nigeria desperately needs people like him. It is therefore a great disservice to maltreat such a cerebral gem.

“As we draw the curtain, we charge Nigerian politicians to shun thuggery and hooliganism. We must draw lessons from the incidents which led to military coups in the past. Politicians must remember that what goes round comes around. Respect begets respect but this golden rule will no longer apply if we allow the era of political violence to return.”  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)