1st
February, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
MURIC ACCUSES TARABA GOV OF RELIGIOUS CLEANSING
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
has accused the governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, of carrying out
intensive religious cleansing against Muslims in the state.
The allegation was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday, 1st
February, 2022 by the director of the human rights organisation, Professor
Ishaq Akintola.
The group said :
“We have credible information that Muslims
in Taraba State have been facing persecution in the hands of Governor Darius
Ishaku since his assumption of office six years ago. It has been a long story
of articulated
marginalisation in appointments and acrobatic neglect in other benefits.
“The list of
persecutions is endless. Darius has embarked on religious cleansing in all
segments of the state’s civil service, agencies and institutions. For example,
all the twelve permanent secretaries appointed two months ago are Christians.
“The issue is
not their faith. What we are interrogating is the criteria the governor used.
The appointments lack merit because all the Muslims on levels 17 and 16 who
should have been made permanent secretaries were by-passed while Christians
under them who are on level 14 were picked. Governor Darius Ishaku deserves an
international award in gymnastic religiousity.
“Darius must be
asked what happened to laid down procedure? What is the cause of absence of due
process under the Christian governor of Taraba State? Why have Muslims become
second class citizens under Ishaku? Is Taraba governor building a composite yet
united citizenry? Is Darius conscious of the fact that he is preparing grounds
for religious crisis in the state?
“Religious
cleansing of unimaginable proportion is going on right now in Taraba as Muslim
staff are being purged from their posts under the watchful eyes and ardent
supervision of Darius Ishaku. Muslims in Taraba State have become endangered species. There is no job
security or job satisfaction for them.
“Can Darius explain why the head of service,
the secretary to the state government and the chief of staff are all Christians
in a state where the governor is already a Christian but the population is
predominantly Muslim? Is the governor aware that he is indirectly paving the
way for the emergence of religious politics?
“Or does Governor Darius think the majority Muslim population does not
know how to use its larger number as a game changer in the political
architecture of the state? Perhaps a trial will convince Darius when ‘the come
comes to become’. Politics is a game of numbers. We have no iota of doubt that
this governor assumes that his tortuous policy of religious cleansing,
oppression and persecution of Muslims will last forever. But we know that Taraba
Muslims are no fools.
“The crimes of Darius against Taraba Muslims are being recorded. He
appointed a Christian as registrar for Taraba State University
without regard for the rules. He got a Christian bursar for the same university
from the ministry after ignoring several qualified Muslim staff. Darius we hail
thee. But there must be a day of reckoning.
“The most senior person who qualified for the post of auditor general of
the state was bypassed because he is a Muslim while a Christian who had little
or no experience was picked. What manner of criterion is this? Darius is
sacrificing merit on the altar of mediocrity.
“Darius has also
embarked on a project specifically designed to eliminate the most enduring
heritage of Islam by refusing to appoint more Qadis (Shariah court judges)
since the death of the Grand Qadi of Taraba State thereby rendering the Taraba State Sharia Court
of Appeal redundant. The smart Alec knows fully well that the only two Qadis on
ground cannot form a quorum.
“It was when the oppression reached a crescendo that Taraba Muslims
addressed a press conference last Friday, 21st January, 2022. (https://apexnewsexclusive.com/appointments-others-taraba-muslims-council-knocks-governor-ishaku-over-marginalization/;
https://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/news/taraba-muslim-council-decries-marginalisation-by-governor-ishaku/).
“The press conference held by Taraba Muslims
last week shows that Muslims in the state have started mobilising themselves
and Darius will soon know that he has
been too clever by half. He has since been running from pillar to post. This
explains why the governor dispatched the Secretary to the State Government
(SSG) to hold an emergency meeting with Taraba Muslims on Saturday, 22nd
January, 2022. Here is indubitable evidence that
Darius is jittery. Like the Shakespearian Macbeth, Darius has murdered sleep and
he shall sleep no more. Arranging a meeting with Muslim leaders within 24 hours
of their press conference is a manifestation of alarm.
“But why start what you
cannot finish in the first place? Why start a campaign of religious cleansing,
marginalization and oppression against Taraba Muslims when you know in your
mind of minds that your victims are in the majority and that they can bite when
they choose to, particularly if you stick your finger in their throats? Well,
the sleeping giant has been aroused from its sleep.
“We advise Governor Darius Ishaku to retrace his steps with immediate
effect. He should engage in genuine dialogue with his Muslim subjects. There
must be a revision of all appointments made in the state. Muslim workers sacked
by Darius must be recalled. The use of thugs to attack Muslim leaders must stop
forthwith or Muslims in the state will be forced to react.
“We also call on the Taraba State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) leadership to pay attention to the various encroachments of the state
governor on labour laws. Religious cleansing of Taraba State labour force is an
infringement on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim workers in the
state.
“Muslims in the
Taraba State workforce are being summarily and arbitrarily dismissed by this
regime. They are being discriminated against in employment opportunities. They
are deprived of job security. This is a contravention of Section 34 of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under right to freedom from
discrimination. We demand protection for Taraba Muslim workers. Those sacked
should be reinstated.
“To our Muslim bretheren in Taraba State who are facing inhuman
treatment, humiliation and intimidation, MURIC has this strong message for you.
You are not alone. We are with you in this struggle. We feel your pain. Be
strong and steadfast in faith. Endure in patience. Remain calm and
law abiding. This Babylon built by Darius will fall. Fir’awn (Pharaoh) will
cease to be in power. Remember Allah’s words to Muslims facing persecution :
‘Do not be sad and do not lose hope. You shall be victorious if you are
believers’ (Glorious Qur’an 3:139)
“Your duty is to
ensure that another Fir’awn does not succeed Darius Ishaku. Although MURIC will
not object to Christians being in power, we assert clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally
that Muslim haters have no moral right sitting in governance over majority
Muslim populations.
“However, it is
the duty of the majority Muslim population to ease out Muslim haters from seats
of power using constitutional and democratic means only. MURIC reiterates its
aversion to the use of violence in all its ramifications. That is why our motto
is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’.
“Therefore, what Muslim populations should do is to register en masse in
readiness for the next election. Get your PVC. That is your power as citizens
in a democratic environment. Vote out your oppressors. In the case of Governor
Darius who is already in his second term, stop cooperating with him or his
government officials and make it clear that the romance is over. Boycott his
programmes. He is using you to create a false façade of religious harmony.
“As for Governor
Darius Ishaku, MURIC has a word for you. The Bible says, ‘He that ruleth over
men must be just, ruling in the fear of God’ (2 Samuel 23:3-4). But can you, in
good conscience, beat your chest and affirm that you have been fair to your
Muslim citizens who are in the majority in your state?
“Again the same
Bible says, ‘It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, for a throne
is established on righteousness’ (Proverbs 16:12). Is it not an act of
wickedness to subject Muslim workers to economic hardship by sacking them and
by depriving them of rightful appointments? The battle line is drawn. We will
soon know who blinks first.”
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
