WE WILL MISS SHAYKH MUHYIDEEN BELLO – MURIC

 

6^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

WE WILL MISS SHAYKH MUHYIDEEN BELLO – MURIC

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared that the whole Muslim community of Nigeria will miss Shaykh Muhyideen Ajani Bello. The great Islamic scholar passed away in his hometown, Ibadan, Oyo State today, Friday, 6^th December, 2024.

 

In a farewell message circulated immediately after his demise, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the Islamic scholar as one in a million, a rare gem, a genius of all time and the most fearless of all preachers. Shaykh was so generous he could give his right eye to the needy. Even as an Islamic scholar, he gave scholarship to a large number of indigent students.

 

MURIC continued, “There is no Islamic scholar so loved by South West Muslims like Shaykh Muhyideen Bello. Every Islamic organization in the region yearned to listen to his insightful lectures while young and old Muslims listened to his recorded speeches for guidance and inspiration. Mammoth crowds attended his gatherings in their thousands.

 

“Shaykh Muhyideen Ajani Bello attended the popular Arabic Institute of Nigeria (Al-Mahad al-‘Arabi an-Naijiirii), Elekuro, Ibadan in the 60s. He later served as a missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Kano branch for decades. He retired to his hometown a few years ago.

 

“One of his last outings was the turbanning ceremony of the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, as the Jagunmolu Adinni of Nigeria (Islamic Generalissimo) which was held in Lagos on Sunday, 29^th September, 2024 just two months ago.

 

“Shaykh’s death has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill in Islamdom. The whole Muslim community of Nigeria will miss him. MURIC prays that Allah forgives Shaykh Muhyideen Bello. May Allah shower His Divine Mercy on him and repose his soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

 

#ShaykhMuhyideenBello

#AlJannahFirdaus

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

TAX REFORM: BUILD TRUST, ALLAY FEARS, DEMYSTIFY NORTH-SOUTH DICHOTOMY BEFORE REFORM – MURIC

 

5^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

TAX REFORM: BUILD TRUST, ALLAY FEARS, DEMYSTIFY NORTH-SOUTH DICHOTOMY BEFORE REFORM – MURIC

 

As the Nigerian Senate halts action on the controversial tax bills, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised the presidency to consult widely, build trust, allay fears and demystify the North-South dichotomy before reintroducing the bills.

 

MURIC’s advice came on Thursday, 5^th December, 2024 via a press statement issued by its executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The Nigerian Senate has been widely reported as halting further debates on the tax reform bill due to the huge controversy it has generated (https://punchng.com/senate-halts-action-on-tax-reform-bills-stops-public-hearing/#google_vignette).

 

“In view of this development, we would like to advice the presidency to devote more time to robust consultation, to build trust across the divides, allay fears in all sectors and demystify the North-South dichotomy before reintroducing the bills. We cannot afford to destroy within days what took a whole century to build. Neither should the presidency remove the same ladder used by it to access Aso Rock’s hilly terrain when it has not even reached halfway yet and it will still need same ladder to reach the very top.

 

“The group also debunked a statement credited to its Executive Director in which he was quoted as saying that Islamic scholars should not comment on the tax reform.  MURIC said such a statement did not emanate from its office.

 

“Rather, what the Executive Director said in an interview that lasted less than two minutes was that he would not personally want to go into the nitty-gritties of the tax reform but he would leave those details to financial experts and tax gurus. He said nothing about other Islamic scholars and he did not say such scholars should not speak on the matter. We advise journalists to desist from twisting words to suit their whims and caprices.”

 

#TaxReformBill

#BuildTrustFirst

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

AVIATION MINISTER FOOLING NIGERIANS ABOUT OYEDEPO’S AIRSTRIP LICENCE – MURIC

 

4^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

AVIATION MINISTER FOOLING NIGERIANS ABOUT OYEDEPO’S AIRSTRIP LICENCE – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has countered the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for saying there was no way the private plane of privileged Nigerians, including Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Bible Church Worldwide, can leave the country directly from their airstrips without first securing clearance from relevant authorities.

 

In a statement issued by the group’s arrowhead, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Wednesday, 4^th December, 2024, MURIC argued that the Nigerian system is too weak while Oyedepo’s figure looms so large that effective control of his airstrip will be almost impossible.

 

MURIC’s statement in full:

 

“The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, recently claimed that there was no way the private plane of privileged Nigerians, including Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Bible Church Worldwide, can leave the country directly from their airstrips without first securing clearance from relevant authorities (https://punchng.com/oyedepos-jet-cant-leave-private-airstrip-without-clearance-keyamo/).

 

“We are obliged to disagree with the Honourable Minister. In the first place, we all know that the Nigerian system is too weak such that scrutiny is easily compromised.

We should leave nothing to chance.

 

 “Secondly, Oyedepo’s figure looms so large that effective control of his airstrip will be almost impossible. Nigeria has weak structures but strong personalities. We cannot trust this current system where ‘all animals are equal but some are more equal than others’. We fear that Oyedepo will soon become the owner of the ‘authorities’ at his airstrip.

 

“Thirdly, the Honourable Minister overlooked the Nigerian factor where religious sentiment and ethnicity continue to drag us down. Priviledged Nigerians (particularly religious leaders) are worshipped and Oyedepo is on top of the list. Who will search Daddy G. O.’s jet? Who will stop any plane from taking off from or landing on Daddy G. O.’s airstrip?

 

“The fourth reason is Oyedepo’s antecedent as someone who cannot tolerate even the Muslims in his own family. This is particularly horrifying and it is the raison d’etre for not trusting him. We will not touch Oyedepo with a long pole. Was he not the same bishop who refused to help his poor Muslim sister, Alhaja Asiyat Yusuf Oyedepo, unless the latter converted to Christianity?

 

“He told her to convert to Christianity or die in poverty (https://dailypost.ng/2012/07/28/convert-christianity-die-poor-bishop-oyedepo-tells-muslim-step-sister/). Oyedepo refused to release the Muslim sister’s corpse to her fellow Muslims in Omu Aran, Kwara State,  for burial after she died of the imposed poverty (https://thenationalpilot.ng/2021/01/11/confusion-trails-burial-of-oyedepos-aunt-aasiyat-1-month-after/; https://dailytrust.com/omu-aran-a-town-almost-torn-apart-by-a-secret-burial/).

 

“The fifth reason is that Oyedepo’s extreme religious ideology has infected his whole church whose membership runs into millions. Nigerian Muslims have received hostile treatments in the hands of Oyedepo’s members. Our organization has intervened in such cases of religiously  motivated maltreatment in the past (https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/10/25/muric-accuses-rccg-of-practicing-apartheid/).

 

Reason Number six: Oyedepo’s notoriety among Nigerian Muslims as a Muslim hater does not help matters (https://arewaagenda.com/why-oyedepo-hates-muslims/).

 

“Reason number seven: Nigerian Muslims cannot be safe in the hands of a Nigerian Christian leader who prayed for Israel to score ‘absolute victory’ in its war against the Palestinians. This is the same war which the humane portion of humanity has described as crime against humanity and for which the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Israel’s prime minister (https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/islamic-group-tackles-adeboye-over-prayers-for-israel-amid-war-with-hamas/7szbm0y).

 

“How are we sure that Oyedepo will not compromise Nigeria’s security to collaborate with Israel’s Mossad? Is the Honourable Minister prepared to stand as surety for the safety of Muslims in the hands of Oyedepo and his proper use of the airstrip only for the purpose the licence was granted?

 

“Reason number eight: Keyamo’s argument that Oyedepo’s airplanes cannot leave Nigeria without clearance is baseless because the danger does not lie in aircrafts leaving Nigeria or coming from foreign countries alone. Dangerous arms and various Christian militia in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, etc can use Oyedepo’s airstrip to commit atrocities against Nigerian Muslims. Such flights are within Nigerian boarders.

 

“Reason Number nine: we have also heard how aircrafts on special missions conveying ‘special forces’ try to avoid detection by flying ‘below the radar’. That can also be made easier where there is a ‘friendly’ private airstrip around somewhere. The availability of Oyedepo’s private airstrip will compound Nigeria’s security challenges.

 

“Reason Number ten: Experience has taught us that Christian extremists will not hesitate to use foul means to achieve their narrow objectives. Worse still, intrafaith conspiracy is common among Christian groups. Oyedepo’s airstrip can be easily used for moving extremists and their weapons around the country to beat securitymen who are usually on the roads. Afterall there is no ‘stop-and-check’ or ‘wettin-you-carry’ in the air.

 

“Religion is our bane in this country and we expect Minister Keyamo to know better. Talk of private airstrips for serious businessmen and women like Dangote and Otedola and hardly will anyone complain. But for a religious leader? It is too sensitive, too dangerous. Don’t cross the red line.”

 

#NoToOyedepoAirstrip

#AviationMinisterDontFoolUs

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC TO PLATEAU GOVT: DON’T DESECRATE OUR CEMETERY

 

30^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO PLATEAU GOVT: DON’T DESECRATE OUR CEMETERY

 

The Plateau State Government has announced the impending closure of the Muslim cemetery on Zaria Road. But the Muslim community has opposed the move. Meanwhile, an Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the matter.

 

In a statement issued on Saturday, 30^th November, 2024, MURIC described it as an attempt to desecrate the Muslim cemetery because graves must be left untouched in Islam. The statement was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

MURIC said:

 

“The Plateau State Commissioner for Land, Survey, and Town Planning, Barrister Nyam Peter Gai, has inaugurated a committee whose assignment is to provide an alternative burial ground within the Bukur-Jos metropolis (https://dailytrust.com/jos-community-raises-alarm-over-planned-closure-of-cemetery/#google_vignette). 

 

“MURIC frowns at this move. It is disrespectful to the dead. It is also motivated by hatred for Muslims. We note with serious concern that there is no single Muslim leader among members of the committee. How can Plateau State government exhume the corpses of Muslims and rebury them elsewhere without involving a single Muslim leader? We repeat, it is a hate-filled action.

 

“Our beloved parents, children, Islamic scholars and other deceased Muslims are resting in that cemetery. They are an integral part of our history. We will not be willing tools in the hands of those who intend to erase our chronicle.

 

“Every cemetery has a story behind it. It is the offsprings, friends and dear ones who leaf through the pages and drop additional lines as time goes on. A cemetery is a miniature memorabilia and any attempt to destroy it is not only a crime against humanity but also an assault on both terrestrial and celestial forces.  

 

“This is a deliberate attempt at totally eliminating historiology among the Jos Muslim community. We are not surprised the vandalization of cemeteries is a common practice among governments led by apartheid infested haters. At least 16 cemeteries have been vandalized by Israeli invaders in Gaza (https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/20/middleeast/israel-gaza-cemeteries-desecrated-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html).

 

“During the Yugoslav Wars of the 90s, Serb and Croat militias destroyed Bosnian Muslim cemeteries. However, those behind the latest attempt to vandalise Jos Muslim cemetery should note that the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ruled that the destruction of religious and cultural sites, including cemeteries, can be considered a crime against humanity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_genocide).

 

“It is an insensitive mission. Plateau has another agenda different from what it has told the public. This attempt lacks inclusivity and suffers desertification of credibility. Barrister Nyam Peter Gai has inaugurated an anti-Muslim committee. We will not be party to the deliberate destruction of our past. You cannot bury our dead behind our back. Plateau has a luciferous agenda.”

 

#MuslimCemeteryJos

#RespectMuslimCemetery

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

GOTV FORCING CHRISTIANITY ON NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

29^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

GOTV FORCING CHRISTIANITY ON NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

The international cable television network, GOTV, has been accused of forcing Christian televangelism on Nigerian Muslims.

 

The allegation was made by an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). In a widely circulated press release signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization demanded stoppage of the use of ‘Faith’ channel on the first Channel of GOTV with immediate effect, describing it as offensive, nauseating and denigrating.

 

The full press release says:

 

“A plethora of complaints has flooded the headquarters of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in the past 30 days concerning the disturbing allocation of a prime channel on the popular international cable television network, GOTV, to ‘Faith’, a popular Christian programme used for televangelism.  

 

“According to the complainants, the first channel on GOTV which used to feature the advertisement of programmes on its other channels has now been dedicated to ‘Faith’ alone such that users of GOTV are compelled to watch the Christian channel willy-nilly once they switch on their television sets.

 

“This is an obvious extension of trammadolised religiousity to a provocative level, a strangulation of Nigerian Muslims with a Christianised hangman’s noose and a grinding subjection of the totality of the Nigerian Muslim psyche to trauma, assault and derision. It is offensive, nauseating and denigrating.

 

“GOTV is taking undue advantage of its licence, abusing its priviledged position and infringing on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims to use of television, choice of programme and freedom to navigate television channels.

 

“On behalf of more than 130 million Nigerians, MURIC demands immediate cessation of the ‘Faith’ programme on this prime channel and its return to its former channel or any other of GOTV’s choice.

 

“By allocating its first channel to the Christian ‘Faith’ televangel programme, GOTV has made Christianity its numero uno agenda in the country and relegated Islam to the bottom of the pyramid. It is religious apartheid and Nigerian Muslims will not accept relegation to third class citizenship in a country where they enjoy comfortable demographic lead.

 

“For a starter, Nigerian Muslims will be forced to start de-subscribing from GOTV if this obnoxious, prejudiced and ill-advised practice is not halted within seven days counting from Monday, 2^nd December, 2024. Other peaceful, legitimate and constitutional anti-GOTV actions may follow as deemed necessary if the service provider fails to comply.

 

“Meanwhile, MURIC appeals to Nigerian Muslims to continue to exercise patience and to remain peaceful and calm. We must not give in to provocation, lawlessness and violence. The law is on our side and we have the right to reject a service provider that has no respect for our faith or for its Muslim customers.”

 

“GOTV will also do better by returning to its original practice whereby the last station watched by consumers opens immediately they switch on their television sets. Nigerians are going through enough stress and GOTV has no right to escalate tension in the nation’s anatomy.”

 

#GOTV

#RespectMuslimCustomers

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

KADUNA REFINERY NEXT AFTER PORT HARCOURT – MURIC

 

27^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

KADUNA REFINERY NEXT AFTER PORT HARCOURT – MURIC

 

 

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd began processing crude oil yesterday, Tuesday, 26^th November, 2024 after a turnaround that lasted several years. This commendable milestone was achieved after several deadlines for resumption failed.  

 

However, in a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, 27^th November, 2024 by the Executive Director of an Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, it was argued that instead of turning attention to the Warri refinery for the next turnaround, the oil industry should now focus on Kaduna refinery for strategic planning, security concerns and geopolitical balancing.

 

The group contended further:

 

“Efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) to revive the economy and secure autonomy for the nation in the oil sector received another boost when the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd began processing crude oil yesterday, Tuesday, 26^th November, 2024.

 

“This was after many attempts at a turnaround of the refinery that lasted several years. This commendable milestone was achieved after several deadlines for resumption failed. The resumption of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which was initially inaugurated in 1965, raised Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity to 860,000 barrels per day. (https://dailytrust.com/just-in-port-harcourt-refinery-begins-operations/).  

 

“While we commend NNPCL management for firmly setting the nation’s feet on a new era of energy security and economic growth, we call for a re-engineering of thought-process towards a change in focus, at least temporarily. Instead of turning attention to the Warri refinery for the next turnaround, the oil industry should now focus on the Kaduna refinery.

 

“Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson of NNPCL, was quoted as saying that the corporation’s attention would now turn to the second Port Harcourt refinery (the new one) and Warri Refinery.  

 

“But this will not be fair, in our humble opinion, because Kaduna Refinery which has the capacity to produce 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) should be the next to be overhauled. This is for reasons of strategic planning, security concerns and geopolitical balancing. We must get our priorities right.

 

“With the Port Harcourt facility joining Dangote Refinery in Southern Nigeria, the attention of the oil industry should shift to the North where no single refinery is functioning at present. No region or zone should be sidelined in the distribution of infrastructure. Besides, Nigeria should not put all its eggs in one basket. There is, therefore, need for even distribution of oil facilities across the country.

 

“In addition, we call on NNPCL to expedite action on oil exploration in the North. It has been revealed that hydrocarbon deposits have been found in commercial quantity in the Kolmani River II Well spanning Bauchi and Gombe States on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, in the northeastern part of the country (https://tribuneonlineng.com/nnpcs-quest-for-oil-exploration-in-the-north/).

 

“This is necessary in order to mull arrogant claimants who refer to the North as a liability to the rest of the country and refer to the South as the nation’s cash cow. Such claims are false, baseless and reckless. We complement each other as equal partners in nation building. We must therefore eliminate the mantra of North-South dichotomy”

 

#PortHarcourtRefineryTurnaround

#KadunaRefineryNext

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

25^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has applauded the cooperation and mutual understanding between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, 25^th November, 2024, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the recent development as positive, progressive and commendable.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) yesterday instructed independent marketers to halt the importation of petroleum products from outside Nigeria citing the capacity of Dangote Refinery to supply the petroleum needs of the country (https://thenews-chronicle.com/nnpc-instructs-marketers-to-halt-petrol-imports-citing-dangote-refinery-capacity/).

 

“In the same vein, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had announced earlier that over 30,000 of its members are set to purchase petrol directly from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery (https://9jaeye.ng/ipman-to-buy-petrol-from-dangote-refinery/).

 

“Coupled with yesterday’s instruction from NNPCL that marketers should stop importing petroleum products henceforth, the recent developments are positive, progressive and commendable.

 

“Having monitored the relationship between the two major stakeholders in the petroleum industry (NNPCL and Dangote refinery) for several months and having observed that both of them have developed respect for each other, we have come to the conclusion that both of them should be applauded for eventually seeing the need for cooperation and mutual understanding in the interest of Nigeria.

 

“It only makes sense even to ordinary laymen that Dangote Refinery with a massive capacity of 650,000 barrels per day is in an ideal position to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs which, as at 29^th October 2024, stands at 50 million litres per day (https://www.thecable.ng/nmdpra-nigerias-daily-consumption-of-petrol-is-50m-litres/).

 

“The Dangote facility can produce far above local demand. This is a big plus for the country. Reuters News Agency has also confirmed that Dangote Refinery has a stockpile of 500 litres of petrol (https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/dangote-says-refinery-has-500-mln-litres-petrol-storage-can-meet-nigerias-demand-2024-10-30/).

 

“The national goal of reducing, ab initio, reliance on fuel import and eventually, totally halting it in order to make fuel self-sufficiency a fait accompli has been eventually actualized in our time.  

 

“With the recent revelation that Nigeria spends approximately N2.6 trillion monthly on fuel importation only (https://nairametrics.com/2024/06/09/nigeria-incurs-n2-6-trillion-on-fuel-imports-in-first-quarter-of-2024-up-46/), the ability of Dangote Refinery to supply all the petroleum needs of the country is a humongous blessing.

 

“MURIC salutes the Federal Government, the leaderships of NNPCL and Dangote refinery for making all these happen without collateral damages. In particular, NNPCL deserves special accolades for letting go and for maintaining iron-grip discipline in the petroleum industry as evidenced by the fact that prices in NNPC petrol stations are the lowest while fuel supply is most stable in them.

 

“The current achievement has been made possible by a combination of highly responsible professionals in NNPCL and a visionary businessman and African industrialist nulli secundus (Alhaji Aliko Dangote), a self-made and very resourceful business guru who has dedicated his life to the provision of the crucial needs of his countrymen and women.

 

“On the other hand, Nigeria is fortunate to have an NNPCL manned by highly experienced men who are endowed with high level integrity and unquestionable sense of patriotism.

 

“MURIC congratulates the Federal Government, NNPCL, the leadership and management of Dangote Refinery and every Nigerian citizen for eventually crawling out of the dark tunnel, at least in the oil sector.

 

“Hope is finally here. It has also been reported that Dangote Refinery has started exporting petrol to West African countries and earning dollars (https://www.thegazellenews.com/news/report-dangote-refinery-exporting-petrol-exports-to-wafrica-in-dollars/). What that means is that we have started generating foreign exchange. It is hoped that this will improve our forex crisis and stabilise the naira.

 

“But it is not yet uhuru. We urge Nigerians to adopt a positive mien about their country so that every other thing can fall in place. Attitudinal change is crucial to winning the war against low self-esteem. Let us think of Nigeria first in all our dealings.

 

“John Franklin Kennedy once said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’. Apart from several investments in other areas, Dangote gave a huge refinery to his country. Every Nigerian must see this as a challenge and ask himself or herself, ‘What is my contribution to Nigeria?’

 

“Before we drop the anchor, I invite Nigerians to ponder over this golden advice from the Glorious Qur’an, ‘Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change their own attitude’ (Qur’an 13:11).

 

#NNPCDangoteRapport

#NigeriaFirst

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)