PRESS RELEASE: NO TO LIFE PENSION FOR NIGERIAN LEADERS

30^th July, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

NO TO LIFE PENSION FOR PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS 

 

The National Assembly recently approved the proposal to put the President of Senate and his deputy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy as well as all past presidents and speakers on life pension. The beneficiaries of this largesse allegedly include the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his vice as well as all past holders of those two exalted offices.       

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) reject this proposal. It is horrendous, preposterous and gluttonous. Coming at a time when the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Okonjo Iweala, is warning that the Federal Government may no longer be able to pay salaries as from October 2013, the approval by the honourable members in the Upper and Lower Houses is, to say the least, callous, self-serving and insensitive. Nigerian leaders tend to have a penchant for waste.

 

With more than 80% of the Nigerian population living below poverty level, with the average Nigerian living on less than $1 per day and Nigeria's per capita income less than $300, how on earth can anyone justify the arrogation of such stupendous luxury to so few? The scenario in this country is getting inextricably deeper into the abyss of capitalist bourgeoisie mentality. This development in the National Assembly further cements the hypothesis that 1% of the Nigerian population is consuming 85% of the wealth of this nation leaving just 15% for the vast majority of 99% of the population. It is a clear demonstration of man's inhumanity to man. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.

 

How can the National Assembly do this when it refuses to approve a token sum of N20,000.00 as monthly relief package for unemployed graduates? How can the NASS do this when N18,000.00 minimum wage has not been approved or paid to most workers in the country? The yearly budgetary allocation to education has always been between 3% and 13%, falling criminally short of the 20% recommended by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Consequently the quality of education continues on a downward slide. That is why lecturers are on strike yet the Federal Government is dillydallying on an agreement it freely entered into with ASUU four years back. How can we trust a government that reneges on its pledges, a government to whom 16 is higher than 19 and 5 superior to 22? Worst still, how can we now trust any pledge in the 2015-related manifesto?

 

MURIC wants the Federal Government to react to rumours making the rounds about our earnings from oil. Is it true that Nigeria produces 2.4 million barrels of crude oil per day? Is it true that we make $244 million daily after selling each barrel at $93.61? Is it also true that Nigeria is expecting about $81 billion as total earnings from oil alone this year 2013?

 

How much is $81 billion if we convert it to Nigeria's currency? If the answer is N12.8 trillion why do we still have problems in this country when the total budget for this year 2013 is just N4.9 trillion? Shouldn't we be having excess funds? Where is the rest? Government owes us an explanation.

 

Why is Nigeria the 20^th poorest country in spite of the abundance of natural resources? Why are we the 26^th hungriest nation in the world? Why can't we enjoy constant power? Why are our hospitals at best glorified clinics and our roads playgrounds frequented only by suicide drivers?

 

MURIC warns the NASS to be wary of popular anger. We charge the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to mobilize the Nigerian work force for a total strike should NASS fail to drop this idea of life pension for public officers. The time has come for the jamaheer (the masses) to take their destiny in their hands.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
0818-211-9714

 

 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

234-803-346-4974

234-818-211-9714

E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk

            muslimrights@gmail.com

Website: www.muric.net

Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights

Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com

Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimrights

               

MURIC's bank account :

Banker's Name: Guaranty Trust Bank

Account Name:        Muslim Rights Concern
Account Number:    0112827277

Be just Justice is the soul of peace

No one can deny one and have the other

Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

PRESS RELEASE: FACTS & FIGURES ON MARRIAGE TO MINORS

26^th July, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

MARRIAGE TO MINORS: FACTS AND FIGURES 

 

A tornado of criticisms has greeted Islam's approval of marriage to minors. Contemptuous cartoons, satirical essays, dirty language and insults have all been used recklessly in the past few days to assail Muslims and intimidate lawmakers.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) will not descend so low as to exchange dirty language. We have respect for all homo sapien and  for all groups. We also hold firmly to our avowed motto, 'Dialogue, No Violence'. We will join none in heating up the polity because we know the value of peace in the society. Therefore we will not trade insults. Whether people abuse or not, it will not change the facts on ground. Superior argument based on facts will always remain superior, at least to intelligent minds. Nobody can intimidate us.

 

Even the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, has reportedly threatened to mobilize Nigerians whom he would lead to the National Assembly to demonstrate against what he describes as Senate's acceptance of the law on marriage to minors. Senate President, David Mark, is already showing signs of submission to coercion as he reportedly accused Senator Ahmad Sani of blackmailing Senate to leave the controversial clause untouched.

 

Instead of jogging people's emotion, MURIC hereby presents facts and figures on legal marriage age around the world for Nigerians to see and judge.

 

In New Hampshire, United States, legal marriage age is 13 for girls and 14 for boys! In Michigan (US) it is 15 but girls can be married below 15 with parental consent. In Indiana (US) a girl can be married at 14 if she becomes pregnant. In Hawaii and Georgia (US) it is 15 with parental consent.

 

Now let us go outside America, in Britain it is 16, in fact it is 15 in most European countries. In Venezuela it is 14 with parental consent, 14 in Paraguay, 14 in Mexico, Bolivia 14. Coming to the African continent, the legal marriage age is 14 in Mozambique and 15 in Gabon. In Angola it is 15, Niger 15, Cameroon 15, Congo DR 15, Benin 15, Kenya 16 and Madagascar 14. In Equitorial Guinea it is 12!

 

So what is all the noise about? Tanzania adds a more pragmatic scenario: the legal marriage age is 14 but girls below 12 can marry for religious reason with the proviso that the marriage will not be consummated until the girl reaches 12. Gambia, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Sudan place no age limit at all on marriage. Nigeria ranks among the most conservative in this area as marriage age is still 18 under the law.

 

MURIC is constrained to ask the following pertinent questions: how are these different from what Nigerian Muslims are saying? Why are some people stereotyping Muslims? Why is anything that has the Islamic tinge contemptuous to some? How can we truly integrate if you hold Muslims in contempt and you allow them to see the contempt? How do you expect Nigerian Muslims to have a sense of belonging? How can they be patriotic? Can this serve the interest of Nigeria as a nation?

 

MURIC refers Doubting Thomases who might assume that we concocted these facts, to the following websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriageable_age, gulfnews.com, http://www.wunrn.com/news/2011/09_11/09_19/091911_minimum.htm, http://marriage.about.com/cs/teenmarriage/a/teenother.htm, etc.

 

MURIC advises Nigerians to be more liberal in thinking. Mindset approach will never work. We advise all and sundry to read and travel wide. Research is today a potent weapon. The world has become a global village courtesy of information technology. Nigerians should not allow themselves to be shut up in a shell. Ignorance will disappear from this country the day we decide to compare and contrast events in our land with what obtains in other places.

 

We advise the CAN president to eschew sensationalisation and concentrate more on building a united Nigeria. Threats are not expected from religious leaders. It falls short of being exemplary. Neither can we gain anything from public demonstrations over trivial issues when there are so many other matters begging for attention. Do we realize that Oritsejafor's call is capable of igniting an Egypt-like scenario if Muslims also mobilize their supporters? Should we precipitate another religious crisis? Perhaps CAN leader should begin to study and emulate the calmness and statesmanship of his counterparts.

 

MURIC rejects the position of Senate president as he hangs the blame on blackmail from Senator Ahmad Sani. David Mark's claim is an afterthought, laughable, infantile and unacceptable. How can a single senator blackmail the whole Senate? Does it mean the Senate President is incompetent? We remind David Mark that the buck stops at his table. He is expected to have built a pressure-resisting system in his anatomy. He should simply resign if he is tired.

 

Finally, we urge Muslims all over the country to ignore provocations and remain peaceful and law abiding. We remind Senate that Religion is a sensitive issue. We therefore charge the Upper House to allow sleeping dogs to lie. In view of the prevailing situation in other countries where circumstances such as religion is allowed to determine the issue of legal age of marriage, Senate should leave this controversial clause status quo ante.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
0818-211-9714

 

 

 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

234-803-346-4974

234-818-211-9714

E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk

            muslimrights@gmail.com

Website: www.muric.net

Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights

Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com

Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimrights

               

MURIC's bank account :

Banker's Name: Guaranty Trust Bank

Account Name:        Muslim Rights Concern
Account Number:    0112827277

Be just Justice is the soul of peace

No one can deny one and have the other

Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

PRESS RELEASE ON CHILD MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA

24^th July, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

NO AGE FACTOR IN ISLAMIC MARRIAGE

 

The raging controversy on child marriage as it affects the review of the Nigerian constitution has been on the floor of the National Assembly for days. It has also occupied a prime of place in cyberspace as the Nigerian social media has fully gone to town over it. Feminists and other activists acting under the guise of protecting the Muslim female child have also exploited the scenario to lampoon Muslims and their institution of marriage.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) will like to put the records straight before too much damage is done to the polity. Islam is a complete way of life and its institutions (including that of marriage) are based on divinely ordained and well documented rules. Whoever wishes to legislate constructively or comment objectively on any aspect of Islam must therefore arm himself with the divine and documentary evidence. Anything short of this will earn lawmakers and commentators disrespect and contempt of Islamdom.

 

The conditions of marriage in Islam are four, namely, proposal and acceptance (al-Ijaab wa alqubuul), approval by both parents (ridaa alwaalidayn), payment of a dowry by the groom (al-mihr) and the presence of at least two male witnesses at the ceremony (shaahidayn 'aadilayn).

 

Age is therefore not part of the conditions which must be met before marriage can be solemnized in Islam. Where the bride is a 'minor', Islam prescribes protective solemnization of marriage without consummation. This means that the girl who is deemed to be of tender age is left untouched by the man until she attains puberty. Another major condition for child marriage is that the girl herself has the right to repudiate the marriage when she attains maturity if she does not like her 'spouse'.

 

MURIC believes that honourable and dignifying child marriage is better than child prostitution which is rampant in Nigerian cities and red light zones. In comparison, the globalization and promotion of homosexualism, lesbianism and same sex marriage is a direct challenge of the Creator's divine order. Whereas child marriage involves two proud and happy families, same sex marriage drives families of the two parties underground, embarrassed and emotionally devastated.

 

The notion of a secular Nigeria is an unmitigated farce. We challenge those behind this monumental deceit to produce the word 'secular' from the Nigerian constitution. How can you say Nigeria is a secular nation when the word 'secular' is not in our constitution? It does not exist. It is a mirage. The fact of the matter is that Nigeria is a multi-religious country. It is when some people want to rob Muslims of their Allah-given and fundamental rights that they label Nigeria 'secular'.

 

We therefore appeal to our lawmakers not to allow self-acclaimed constitutional ideologues to railroad them into tampering with the Allah-given and fundamental rights of Muslims. Nigeria's constitution must take into consideration the various ethnic and religious groups in order to create a symphony. Any constitution that does not take the people's cultures and religions into consideration is not only draconian but designed to fail from the onset.

 

For instance, the Nigerian matrimonial law which stipulates marriage to only one woman is designed to cater for Christians. Legislators must leave alone those clauses which cater for Muslim marriage otherwise they will be unfair to Muslims. We must all remember that Justice is the Soul of Peace.

 

MURIC appeals to Nigerians to learn the art of tolerance. We must learn to live with one another without attempting to bend any particular group towards a particular mindset. Let us learn to respect our differences. There can be no social cohesion unless we learn to accept Muslims as Muslims and respect their way of life. In the interest of peaceful coexistence, we advise Nigerians to resist further attempt to stereotype and stigmatize Muslims.

 

It is paradoxical that some feminists and activists now claim to be defending the rights of the Muslim girl-child. Where were they when millions of Muslim women were disallowed from registering for votes in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Oshun, Ondo and other states in the South on account of their wearing of hijab during the 2007 and 2011 general elections? Why have they remained silent since the Lagos female pupil was given 43 lashes of the cane by a heartless school principal? Is that not child abuse? Why did they leave the Muslims alone to clamour for redress?

 

Parasites, pretenders and interlopers should stop poking their noses in the affairs of Muslims. Who wants his own daughter to suffer. These people should stop shedding crocodile tears. Nobody can love our daughters, our wives and our mothers more than us. Why are they crying more than the bereaved? We know that the rat should be careful when the cat starts performing ablution.

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
0818-211-9714

 

 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

234-803-346-4974

234-818-211-9714

E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk

            muslimrights@gmail.com

Website: www.muric.net

Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights

Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com

Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimrights

               

MURIC's bank account :

Banker's Name: Guaranty Trust Bank

Account Name:        Muslim Rights Concern
Account Number:    0112827277

Be just Justice is the soul of peace

No one can deny one and have the other

Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

PRESS RELEASE ON 'PLAN TO ATTACK THE SULTAN'

12^th July, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

PLAN TO 'ATTACK' SULTAN BASELESS

Some media houses reported today a purported plan by a faction of Boko Haram to attack the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, quoting security sources. The suspects were allegedly outwitted by security agents. One of them was killed while the rest were arrested.     

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) wishes to put the records straight. While it is true that security agents flushed out some unscrupulous elements in the state yesterday, the incident did not occur in Sokoto town itself but somewhere about ten kilometers from Sokoto township. We must also put it on record that the operation has nothing to do with the safety of the Sultan or any planned attack on his person.

MURIC wishes to assure members of the public that the Sultan is safe and sound and he continues to enjoy the support and goodwill of Nigerian Muslims. While we appreciate the role being played by the press in the country, we charge journalists to carefully verify their facts before giving information to members of the public and to avoid sensationalisation. As the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the press has the responsibility to ensure accurate and balanced reportage.

MURIC calls on the Nigerian security agencies to raise their level of proactiveness and intelligence gathering in order to secure lives and properties throughout the country. We also urge members of Boko Haram to honour the ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government.

Finally, we call on Nigerian Muslims to seize the opportunity of the gargantuan spiritual benefits of the Ramadan season to pray for peace in the country and for the dynamic leader of the Muslim Ummah, the Sultan of Sokoto.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
0818-211-9714

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

234-803-346-4974

234-818-211-9714

E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk

            muslimrights@gmail.com

Website: www.muric.net

Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights

Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com

Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimrights

               

MURIC's bank account :

Banker's Name: Guaranty Trust Bank

Account Name:        Muslim Rights Concern
Account Number:    0112827277

Be just Justice is the soul of peace

No one can deny one and have the other

Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

RAMADAN MESSAGE

7^th July, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

RAMADAN MESSAGE: TIME TO PUT AN END TO SUFFERING

 

Muslims all over the world will commence fasting either on Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the day the moon is sighted. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has issued a statement to this effect. Muslims observe fasting from dawn to dusk throughout the month of Ramadan. The rigorous exercise lasts 30 or 29 days.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) reminds Nigerians of the main purpose of Ramadan fast, namely, to refill man's cup of piety. To this end, we call attention to signposts of piety and the effect it can have on the Nigerian body polity.

 

Whereas the founders of the Nigerian nation neither amassed wealth nor did they misappropriate public funds, the leaders of today sleep on beds of gold with public funds starched inside their pillow-cases. Whereas Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo are not known to have stolen one kobo, Nigerian politicians of today have the noun 'thief' and the verb 'to steal'.

 

Today the Nigerian proletariat is overworked, underpaid and overtaxed. Workers' take-home pays cannot take them home. The price of food items have skyrocketed. Hundreds now sleep under the bridge. Most Nigerian hospitals are sheer public mortuaries. The education sector is in crisis. Power supply remains epileptic.

 

MURIC appeals to Nigerian leaders to seize the opportunity of the Ramadan period to change their ways. Ramadan offers the opportunity for sober reflections. This is the time for leaders to adopt altruism. Nigeria's proverbial milk and honey belongs to the working class and to those who have toiled for this nation, namely, the retirees. It is also the period for the citizenry to look inwards and show remorse. Nigerians must change their mindset. We must rise again to promote those values that are capable of turning our country around: honesty, transparency, accountability, diligence, tolerance, forgiveness and love.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

234-803-346-4974

234-818-211-9714

E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk

            muslimrights@gmail.com

Website: www.muric.net

Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights

Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com

Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimrights

               

MURIC's bank account :

Banker's Name: Guaranty Trust Bank

Account Name:        Muslim Rights Concern
Account Number:    0112827277

Be just Justice is the soul of peace

No one can deny one and have the other

Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace