DEFECTORS ARE TOO CLEVER BY HALF

30^th July, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

DEFECTORS ARE TOO CLEVER BY HALF

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to ignore those who recently defected from the ruling party to other political parties. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) gave this advice in a press statement issued on Monday.

According to the Islamic human rights organization, instead of dissipating energy on defectors, the Federal Government (FG) should concentrate on its infrastructural projects. The statement added that the defectors never really belonged to the ruling party. It described them as distractors who only possess nuisance value and politicians who find it difficult to operate in a transparent political environment because the corruption virus is not only in their blood, it is domiciled in their DNA.

“They have found an easy solution by defecting to the same party which prioritized corruption, idolized kleptomaniacs and rewarded criminality and impunity. These are the true enemies of the Nigerian people. Thieves are regrouping to loot again. We must congratulate Buhari for ridding his team of molls, pests, hypocrites and parasites. Majority of political liabilities and cogs in the wheel of progress are out of the way. But it is not over until the two big masquerades unmask and jump the fence into the traitors’ mafia camp.

“We voted for these defectors because of Buhari. We did not vote for them on personal merit. We pity the defectors. They are victims of collective amnesia. Have they forgotten that they rode on the back of Buhari in 2015 to get into what later turned out to be a den of thieves? Buhari was the magic name in 2015. He has not lost that magnetic aura. The records show that he has performed creditably well in spite of the deadly mines laid by traitors in that notorious den. Buhari is still the dot in the com”.

The signatory to the press release, Ishaq Akintola, a professor of Islamic eschatology said, “We are not moved by the number of defectors. The questions we should be asking is ‘What is their quality? How much moral fiber do they possess? What has been their contribution to party followership? How loyal have they been to their party? Have they ever been supportive of presidential initiatives? Are they the type that will pass the integrity test? Have they been playing positive roles in the war against corruption?

“Progressives who support President Buhari’s anti-graft fight should heave sighs of relief if the answers to the above questions are all negative. In fact Mr. President should be congratulated that traitors and clogs in the wheel of progress have finally shown their faces. When the going was good, they were only good as alternatives to Nollywood, court jesters and boot-lickers of corrupt hill-top political godfathers, sleeping on duty, blocking presidential nominees, budget padding and delaying budgets for seven months. These people never really belonged ab initio. They came with a mission to protect their stolen booty and to protect their superrich and corrupt godfathers by debilitating and retarding the war against corruption.

“What exactly is the benefit of bitter kola since it has no segments when cracked open and it is so bitter when bitten?  Wheat must be separated from the chaff before it can be useful and a good surgeon will not hesitate to amputate a rotten limb in order to save the remaining healthy part of the anatomy.

“We are aware of the fact that politicians generally have not lived up to the expection of Nigerians and no single political party is an exception. While there is little choice in rotten apples, we must note that if Buhari’s party is not the answer, it cannot be those who pauperized the citizenry and brought the country to its knees. We are not thinking of any party, our focus is on President Muhammadu Buhari. Our interest is integrity, transparency, probity and accountability.

Nigerians are advised to jettison party politicking for that individual who has been identified as the champion of anti-corruption not only on the African continent but also in the whole world. We must build upon the recent singular honour which the International Criminal Court at the Hagues gave the Nigerian president when he was invited as an august visitor to the highly reputable court.

The significance of that invitation must not be lost on Nigerians. One of the judges of the court remarked that Buhari was the only African head of state to have visited the court as a guest and not as a criminal. We see this as a great honour to the whole country and not for our President alone. Therefore we have no single modicum of doubt that Buhari can lead Nigeria back to a glorious El Dorado if given the chance.

In our closing remarks, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore defectors and concentrate on infrastructural development. We urge Nigerians not to fall for the antics of dexterous kleptomaniacs. Let us rally behind President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s only internationally acclaimed anti-graft crusader. Defectors from the ruling party have only exposed their true mission in politics, namely, stealing without borders. They jumped the boat when their mission failed. They have been too clever by half.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

RETHINK OBJECTION TO BANIRE’S NOMINATION

26^th July, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

RETHINK OBJECTION TO BANIRE’S NOMINATION

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reacted to the objection to Banire’s nomination. Dr. Muiz Banire was last week nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the Assets Management Commission of Nigeria (AMCON). But three senators from Lagos have raised objection to his nomination.      

Reacting to the objection, MURIC said it was saddened by the development. “We are looking at this from an entirely different angle. We are a Muslim human rights group and we are interested in seeing Muslims performing their civic duties, enjoying their Allah-given fundamental rights and taking their rightful positions like all other citizens in public posts.

“We are not out to stop people of other faith from enjoying the same priviledges or occupying positions of authority. But naturally our adrenalin goes up whenever there is an attempt to block a Muslim from enjoying what is his right, particularly when such a Muslim is more than qualified for the post. We have no iota of doubt that Dr. Muiz Banire is well qualified for this post both by his high level of education and experience. His integrity is also solid.

“Muslims are at the bottom of the pyramid of deprivation in this country. Therefore, every appointment given to a Muslim raises the Muslim community above poverty level. It does not matter whether such an appointment is political or otherwise. Muslim youths lose hundreds of admission opportunities into universities on account of their inability to pay the fees. More than 80% of unemployed youths are Muslims while Muslim women and children are among the most vulnerable in Nigeria today.

“We are not interested in party politics. That is an internal matter and only politicians can handle that. Our advice is that politicians should put their house in order. They should learn from the ongoing crisis at the national level which emanated from lack of internal cohesion. They should handle the Lagos angle with great care because the hawks are already hovering above and only a united force can resist them. We note the consistent development of Lagos State under progressive regimes since 1999. Everything should be done to ensure that this state of excellence does not fall into the hands of marauders.

“We affirm that Lagos Muslims are greatly disturbed by the objection raised against Dr. Banire’s nomination because of the closeness of the latter to many Islamic organisations. Banire is recognized as a very active Muslim leader not only in Lagos State but also nationwide. He also identifies with the umbrella Islamic organization and he is well known to its leaders. Muslims cannot afford to keep quiet if he is denied this opportunity to serve. Afterall, Christian leaders too do not abandon their own members in times of need.

“We have nothing against the senators who objected to his nomination because only politicians can understand the issues involved. We respect them as political leaders in their own rights. But we are reminding them that this objection goes beyond politics. It has very wide and serious implications particularly among Muslims at this critical period.

“It is not about Banire alone. Every Muslim politician is important to MURIC. Nay, we have a duty to protect Allah-given fundamental right of every single Muslim in this country, including the right to vote and be voted for and the right to hold a public post without let or hinderance so long as such a Muslim has not committed any crime punishable under the law.  We are there to watch their backs.  

“In the final analysis, we call on the Lagos senators who objected to Dr. Banire’s nomination to do a rethink and to settle their internal wrangling amicably. In particular, the respected apex leadership of the party in the South West should use his wide exposure and fatherly disposition to facilitate an all-is-well-that-ends-well outcome. We appeal to Lagosians of goodwill and Muslim leaders in particular to intervene in this matter before it is too late”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CHARGES MUSLIMS TO GET THEIR PVC

25^th July, 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CHARGES MUSLIMS TO GET THEIR PVC

With less than one month to the deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Nigerians to register for the 2019 general elections, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added its voice to those calling on Nigerians to get their voters’ cards (PVC) ready.

This message was contained in a press statement issued by the organization and signed by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday.

MURIC urged Imams in all parts of the country to make the issue of registration for the 2019 elections and the need for Muslims to register as voters the core of their sermons to be delivered in all mosques every Friday beginning from Friday, 27^th July, 2018.

According to MURIC, “Your vote is your power. You must make it count. But you will have no opportunity to vote if you fail to register. The deadline announced by INEC is 17^th August, 2018. We are therefore urging you to go out and register for this coming 2019 election before the ultimatum expires. Do it with determination. You may encounter difficulties and inconveniences. Be patient until you are able to register because it is an assignment and a sacrifice for the comfort of the next five years”.

The human rights organization cautioned Muslim parents. “Muslim Parents are warned not to allow their children and wards to be used as political thugs. Remember that the children of most politicians are in foreign lands relishing the stupendous wealth stolen by their parents. It is therefore not worth sacrificing the children of the hoi polloi. Besides this, you must note that Nigerian politicians are not worth dying for. The only thing worth dying for is the Nigerian project, not partisanship, not exclusive religiousity and definitely not tribal jingoism.

“INEC is alerted to the plot by some unscrupulous ad hoc staff who are in the habit of disenfranchising prospective Muslim voters by ordering female Muslims to remove their hijab while men are asked to remove their caps. Muslims are urged to peacefully but resolutely resist such illegal, unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional requests and to forward their complaints to MURIC officials and Muslim leaders”.

MURIC also advised Muslim voters not to sell their voters’ cards and to cast their votes only for candidates of their choices.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)