DON’T DEMOLISH POST GRADUATE MEDICAL COLLEGE MOSQUE

28^th February, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

DON’T DEMOLISH POST GRADUATE MEDICAL COLLEGE MOSQUE

A fresh religious crisis is brewing in the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Ijanikin, Lagos, as the College management is allegedly warming up to pull down the only mosque within the college.    

Documents seen by the Investigating Officer of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) confirm that the Muslim community of the College had been using a makeshift mosque for about ten years until 28^th October, 2015 when they applied for a permanent space to build a befitting structure. In a letter dated 20^th January, 2016, NPMCN management approved a permanent piece of land measuring 20 meters x 20 meters “along the road to the staff quarters”. The Muslim community responded with a letter of appreciation dated 1^st December, 2016.

But in a sudden twist, the College management in its letter of 12^th June 2016, ordered the Muslim community to stop the construction because “it was discovered that there is no provision for permanent structure for mosque or church in the College master plan.” The Muslim community made a passionate appeal to the authorities in its letter of 18^th July, 2017 and the College rescinded its decision in another letter dated 24^th August, 2017.

Yet again on 12^th December 2017 another letter was issued by NPMCN management asking the Muslims to stop work on the site. The College cited the decision of the Governing Council for this final move.

MURIC is constrained to fault this decision because it seeks to deprive both staff and students, Christians and Muslims of the great institution their right to worship. This is contrary to the provisions of Section 38 (i) & (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees freedom of worship. Any action or inaction of any authority which curtails this freedom either directly or indirectly is null, void and of no consequence whatsoever.  

We are greatly perturbed by the chaotic manner with which the College management has handled the matter. It is glaring that management could not make up its mind on time leading to epileptic administrative stances. It approves, then disapproves and approves again only to rescind its decision in the end. We opine that the latest position of the College authorities is unrealistic. It has failed to take into consideration the composition and yearning of the Nigerian society.

Whereas man is body, soul and spirit, the College has elected to turn the campus to a godless community by preparing a master plan without any provision for worship centers. This lacuna is not acceptable. It is quite unusual as Nigerian tertiary institutions are known to reserve at least one space each for a church and a mosque. It must be pointed out that medical doctors who are able to meet their spiritual needs turn out to be better ambassadors of the medical profession in their day-to-day relationship with patients. Nigeria is not in need of programmed robots as doctors and consultants.

It is not too late, however. We appeal to the authorities to take the case back to the governing council. Provision should be made for church space and the Christian community reserves the right to use it as it deems fit. They also have the right to reject it if they don’t need it. But that should not affect the Muslim space. The space allocated to the Muslims must not be taken from them. Neither should anyone contemplate demolishing the mosque at its present level of construction. That alone will send out a dangerous signal.

We suggest that the governing council and management should allow the leaders of the Muslim Community to air their views. This may bring about better understanding regarding the raison d’etre for a mosque or a permanent structure. The College authorities cannot, in good conscience, go ahead to demolish the mosque after they had given approval twice and work had begun.

Muslims by the nature of their worship need mosques in their work places and educational institutions. Authorities who respect human feelings and who have no intention of encroaching on Allah-given fundamental human rights give good consideration to the need for mosques. In particular, those who seek peaceful coexistence will not hesitate to allow either Muslims or Christians to worship. When a hen perches on a rope, neither the hen nor the rope will remain stable.

In the final analysis, we know that Christians in the College may not make any demand due to the nature of their worship but Muslims must pray five times daily and suggesting that they should go outside the campus to do that is like forbidding them from worshipping Allah. Neither should the authorities judge one group with the standard of another. Each must be given its own space and the Muslim mosque which is already on ground should not be demolished. It had better not be.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

BOKO HARAM COWARDS FOR ATTACKING GIRLS

26^th February, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

BOKO HARAM COWARDS FOR ATTACKING GIRLS

The Federal Government (FG) yesterday confirmed the abduction of 110 girls from Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State. The attack occurred on Monday19th February, 2018.    

This attack has exposed Boko Haram terrorists as a despicable bunch of cowards who turn their guns on unarmed innocent girls and the most vulnerable members of society. True heroes take on challenging targets.

Once again, Boko Haram terrorists have proved that they have nothing in common with Nigerian Muslims. The abduction of Dapchi school girls is a flagrant violation of Islamic rules of engagement which forbid attacks on women, children and old people during hostilities. Islamic rules concerning wars are so humane that even trees and livestock belonging to the enemy must be spared.

But as usual, Boko Haram manifested ignorance of Islamic etiquette by attacking an educational institution where young girls are concentrated. The forceful kidnap of 276 Chibok girls on 14^th April, 2014 readily comes to mind and the various acts of forceful conversion and marriage of some of the girls remain objectionable, and alien to the tenets of Islam.     

Nonetheless, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is worried by the similarity in coincidental circumstances in the Chibok and Dapchi abductions. Both attacks occurred a week after troops were withdrawn from the towns. Even the 2013 massacre of 29 students in a secondary school in Buni Yadi by Boko Haram a week after the withdrawal of troops arouses our curiousity.

It is our contention that whereas Boko Haram has been technically defeated, the Nigerian military has inadvertently allowed the insurgents to gain the upper hand in wits. There is ample evidence to prove that the insurgents spy on Nigerian troops and launch attacks during periods of complacency.  We should have known that it is not over until it is over.

However, MURIC commends FG for swinging into action hours after the Dapchi attack. The fact that three key ministers were immediately dispatched to the scene shows a world of difference between this administration and its predecessor. It is on record that ex-President Jonathan remained skeptical and did nothing for weeks after the kidnap of the Chibok girls. President Muhammadu Buhari’s apology to Nigerians over the recent unfortunate incident is another feather in his cap.

As we round up, we call for an urgent investigation into the withdrawal of troops from Dapchi barely a week before the attack. We charge the Nigerian military to put other soft spots in the North East under close watch. We implore Nigerians from all walks of life to pray for the safe and early return of all the missing girls.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PROBE ZAMFARA KILLINGS

21^st February, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

PROBE ZAMFARA KILLINGS 

About 41 people were gunned down by hoodlums who attacked Birane villa in Zurmi Local Government Area, Zamfara State on Wednesday 14^th February 2018.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly condemns this gruesome killing. It is dastardly, inhuman and barbaric.

Although we appreciate the order given to the Minister of Defence to relocate to Zamfara State, we believe this is not enough compared to the high level premium the presidency placed on the Benue killings of 1^st January, 2018 when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Benue to condole with the governor and people of the state. The people of Zamfara also deserve a presidential visit.

We are equally dissatisfied with the lukewarm attitude of other state governors to the latest massacre in Zamfara State. It is on record that apart from the Vice President, about three state governors also visited Benue State. The visiting governors also donated huge amounts of money to the state to assist families of the victims. We are not aware of such visits and the extension of hand of fellowship to Zamfara.

Neither has the National Assembly (NASS) been fair to the state if its firebrand reaction to the Benue killings is compared to the mild statement issued on the Zamfara killings. As usual, the Christian Association of Nigeria played the advocatus diaboli on Benue, but went on sabbatical on Benue. We are not a little amused.

But most blameworthy are the security agencies whose complicity may not be in doubt in view of Governor Yari’s claim that security agents ignored warnings issued 24 hours before the killings started. This is most preposterous, highly suspicious and categorically unacceptable. We may be seeing the fallout of premeditated lopsided appointments into the secret services which took place under the watch of ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

MURIC corroborates the claim made by Senator Kabir Marafa (Zamfara Central) that Zamfara has witnessed more than twenty times the killings in Benue. For while Benue lost 73 in January this year (and we sympathise with the families of those victims), Zamfara killings had been popular as far back as 2012.

The state lost more than thirty people in attacks which took place in June and October 2012 in its North Western part. About 150 heavily armed gunmen, who came on 38 motorcycles, killed more than 32 people on June 17, 2013 in Kizara Village, Tsafe Local Government. Again around February 8, 2014, sixteen persons were mowed down in a similar attack on the North Western villages of Zamfara State.    

More than 70 people were butchered in the state in clashes between cattle rustlers and youth vigilante groups early in April 2014. Early in 2015, life was sniffed out of 26 people in Maitsaba and Birnin-Tsaba villages in the Zurmi local government area by gunmen in military uniforms who burned down 20 houses and destroyed essential grains harvested by the locals.

36 miners were killed in the Maru area on 9^th November 2016. 31 people were reportedly killed in the state while 40 were kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen on 18^th November, 2016. Another 120 people were allegedly massacred by herdsmen late in October 2017. Again on Friday, Nov 17, 2017, another attack left 23 dead and properties worth hundreds of millions were destroyed in the villages of Mallamawa and Tungar Kahau.

The preponderance of the Zamfara killings have been corroborated by David Dabi, the Sector Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), who confirmed that no fewer than 1,135 persons have been killed by cattle rustlers and armed bandits from 2011 to February 2017 in the state.  The figure has since shot up if we add those killed in October 2017 (120), November 2017 (23) and the latest massacre (41).

MURIC is worried that little attention is given to Zamfara in spite of all evidence pointing at higher figure of killings in the state. While we denounce killings everywhere, we assert that Zamfara blood is no less sacred and no less human than that of Benue.

We charge Northern communities, particularly non-governmental organizations, to evolve means of compiling data on attacks, deaths, injuries and cost of destroyed properties and to make them available at the shortest time possible. The ministries of information and special duties must also provide pictorial evidence, including video (clips) of the dead, injured, and burial of victims.

We invite the Federal Government to halt the emerging pattern of systematic reduction of the population of Northern Nigeria, the methodical debilitation of its economy and the creation of panic via false alarms in the South West by certain vested interests. In addition, we call on states which have outlawed open grazing to reconsider their stand.   

Finally, MURIC calls for a judicial commission of inquiry to look into circumstances leading to killings in Zamfara State. We appeal to cattle rearers and billionaire cattle farmers to reorientate herdsmen under them with a view to halting the phenomenon of cows destroying farms. Criminal herders who attack innocent farmers should be made to face the full wrath of the law while compensation should be paid to farmers who lost their harvests to invading herdsmen and their cows.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

WE MOURN SHAYKH TURETA

20^th February, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

WE MOURN SHAYKH TURETA 

The death of Kaduna-based Shaykh Abubakar Tureta has been announced. He died yesterday at Garkuwa Hospital, Kaduna, at the age of 74. He had been battling with injuries he sustained in an accident three years ago.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is deeply saddened by Shaykh Tureta’s death. We commiserate with the Governor and people of Kaduna State over this irreplaceable loss.

Shaykh Abubakar Tureta was an ocean of knowledge, a teacher of teachers, a powerful orator and a model nulli secundus. He was a friend, an admirer and a mentor of MURIC. We will definitely miss his warmth, his kindness and his disarming smile.

Our hearts are heavy with grief today but we take solace in the Islamic fatalistic philosophy of death. We condole with the family on the occasion of this huge loss. We urge his children, particularly the eldest son, Justice Salisu Abubakar Tureta, to continue from where the Shaykh stopped.  

Finally, we pray that Almighty Allah forgives our dear Shaykh. May divine mercy be showered on him from the day he entered the grave till the Day of Resurrection.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)