PATRIOTIC BILL: KUDOS TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

9th October, 2012 PRESS RELEASE PATRIOTIC BILL ET AL: KUDOS TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY   Nigerian senators recently drafted a bill that will disallow public office holders from sending their children abroad for studies. Known as the Patriotic Bill, the move seeks to drastically reduce the common but selfish practice of Nigeria's public officers who sponsor their own children and wards abroad while stinting the education sector at home of essential infrastructure. Exempted from the bill are children of public officers who are adults and fending for themselves; those pursuing courses in areas not offered in any Nigerian institution and those who are already pursuing programmes overseas before their parents got to public offices.   The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) lauds the Upper House for initiating this bill and for having the courage to debate it and move it forward. It is further proof of the progress of democratic practices in Nigeria. The National Assembly appears in recent times to be focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to ordinary Nigerians. We recall its noble stand on the removal of fuel subsidy in January this year. At present, the National Assembly is locked in a battle of wits with the presidency over the implementation of the 2012 budget. In our humble opinion, Nigerian legislators are waxing stronger in their oversight functions.   MURIC however calls the attention of the National Assembly to the need for reviewing the exemption clauses in the bill. We frown at the exemption of public office holders whose children have been studying overseas before they became public officers. We believe very strongly that anyone who aspires to public office should be patriotic enough to keep his or her children or wards in Nigerian institutions. Those who already have children or wards abroad have the option of bringing them back into the country to continue their studies if they need public office at all.    The reality is that our public officers abandon Nigeria's education sector because most of them train their children and wards overseas. They must be made to retain their children here so we can all improve the system together. The taste of the pudding is in the eating. How can they know it if they don't feel it? In addition, MURIC suggests that the Patriotic Bill be amended to include banning public office holders and members of their nuclear family from seeking medical attention outside the shores of Nigeria except in cases where treatment of such ailments cannot be done in the country. Our hospitals became public mortuaries simply because government officials show no interest in what transpires there. They go abroad to treat ordinary headache and abandon the poor masses who voted them into power to attend hospitals where drugs are not available and vital facilities are either malfunctioning or not available at all. Millions of poor Nigerians died prematurely as a result of this criminal and reckless behavior.      Professor Is-haq Akintola,  Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974        234-818-211-9714 Website: www.ishaqakintola.com Blog: drishaqakintola.blogspot.com Twitter:  ishaqakintola Facebook: facebook.com/ishaqakintola Twitter: ishaqakintola   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered

PRESS RELEASE ON MUBI MASSACRE

3rd October, 2012 MUBI MASSACRE: THE HEIGHT OF BESTIALITY   Unknown gunmen went berserk yesterday Tuesday 2nd October, 2012 at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State. About forty eight people were killed, many of them students. Both guns and knives were used as weapons in the melee. The attackers reportedly called their victims by name before killing them. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are still undergoing treatment in different hospitals.        The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly deplores this barbaric attack. It is the height of bestiality. Whatever may have been the casus belli, the end does not justify the means. It is simply unthinkable that anyone would carry out an attack of this magnitude on an institution of higher learning.   Yet what is most worrisome is the ease with which the attackers carried out the killings before melting into thin air. It is a serious indictment on our security agencies. This massacre further amplifies the helplessness of our security network. Nigeria is no longer safe. People are living in fear. The details of the attack further compounds our fear as it becomes difficult to point an accusing finger at any group. Among the victims were Christians and Muslims as well as people of various ethnicities.   The Federal Government must look inwards to identify the pernicious policies which have caused this animalistic behavior. Something must be done to fill the empty stomachs of the hungry jamaheer (masses). Job opportunities must be provided for this angry army of unemployed graduates.   This violence is scaring away investors both locally and internationally. Aso Rock must put its house in order before inviting foreigners to come and invest in Nigeria otherwise the international community will continue to laugh at us. The violence is killing incentive and creativity in young  Nigerians. Talents are being suffocated by conscienceless power. The Jonathan regime is fast losing its moral right to remain in power as it has failed to fulfill a vital part of the social contract it signed with Nigerians, namely, the provision of security of lives and properties.   While the ordinary Nigerian lives in fear, President Jonathan recently launched a special arm of presidential guards. This reveals the selfishness of the president. Jonathan is only thinking of himself. He believes everything is fine as long as he remains untouched. Aso Rock keeps digging in, thereby increasingly exposing the jamaheer to canibalisation, dehumanization and untold psychological trauma.   MURIC charges Mr. President to wake up from his illusions. We did not vote for him for the purpose of surrounding himself with armoured tanks. There is an urgent need to properly equip the security agencies so as to enable them to perform their primary duty of protecting Nigerians. Jobs must be provided to take the hungry but angry youths off the streets.    Professor Is-haq Akintola,  Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974        234-818-211-9714 Website: www.ishaqakintola.com Blog: drishaqakintola.blogspot.com Twitter:  ishaqakintola Facebook: facebook.com/ishaqakintola Twitter: ishaqakintola   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered