EXPLAIN ALL-CHRISTIAN HEADS : MURIC TASKS GOV ISHAKU

 

28^th February, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

EXPLAIN ALL-CHRISTIAN HEADS : MURIC TASKS GOV ISHAKU 

                                   

An Islamic human rights organisation has asked the Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, to explain why only Christians were appointed as principal officers of the Taraba State University (TSU) after the recent interview conducted by the institution. The group also questioned the lopsided appointments of permanent secretaries which favoured Christians only.

 

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) threw the challenge through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who issued a press statement on Monday, 28^th February, 2022.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“The Taraba Muslim Council recently disclosed that Muslim applicants scored highest marks in the interview held on 17^th February, 2022 for the posts of Vice chancellor, registrar and bursar of Taraba State University (TSU). Surprisingly, Christian applicants who scored less were given the exalted positions.

 

 

“This is highly disgusting, extremely repugnant and outrageously scandalous. Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku is sacrificing excellence on the altar of mediocrity. There is no doubt that picking a less qualified Christian and dropping an eminently qualified Muslim is the height of articulated religiousity. Ishaku has set a dangerous precedent.

 

 

“The public wants to know the circumstances surrounding the appointments of Christians only as key officers of the university sequel to the recent interview conducted by the unniversity. Ishaku must explain why all the three principal officers of TSU are Christians. The governor must put his cards on the table for all to see. The Taraba Muslim Council suspects foul play. MURIC believes that Allah-given fundamental human rights of Taraba Muslims have been abridged.

 

 

“How did Prof Sunday Bako, Mr Joseph Bibinu and Mr Abraham Bagu emerge as vice chancellor, registrar and bursar respectively? These questions were asked by the Taraba Muslim Council about a week ago but there has been dead silence from the governor’s end because he knows that the only criterion which he considered in them is that they are Christians.

 

 

“It is a pity that merit has been allowed to give way to religious favouritism. No wonder the downward quality of education in Nigeria today. Leaders like Ishaku will only give Christian dominated education, not quality education. To them, it is the faith of the vice chancellor that matters, not the high standard he can give the institution. How then can such a university rub shoulders with world class universities?

 

 

“Can the Taraba state governor explain why Engr. Mohammed Yusuf Bose was sidelined and two of his juniors in rank, Samuel Lauya and Godfrey Dame were appointed permanent secretaries? Is there also any explanation for appointing a Christian who is junior to Abdulkadir Nagari, Hashimu Hammawa and Dr. Shehu Kara?

 

 

“That is not all. There are many other marginalized Muslims in the Taraba civil service like Barrister Aminu Sabo Adamu, Hajiya Halima Zubairu and Dr. Ahmad H. Kara. Christians who are juniors under them are elevated to the post of permanent secretaries while they remain in the same posts.

 

 

“They are now serving their former juniors! Their only crime is that they are Muslims and Governor Ishaku’s mission is to frustrate Muslims in the civil service. Ishaku believes that Muslims must be shortchanged. Is this fair? Is this equitable? This is his own way of purging Muslims out of the system. He believes that frustration will force them to ask for premature retirement. Is this not what we call man's wickedness to man?

 

 

“Ishaku has instructions to carry out religious cleansing in the state’s workforce. This governor has just two dogmas : number one, only Christians deserve the highest posts; number two, Muslims must be the dregs of Taraba society. This is administrative robbery. It is denial of their Allah-given fundamental human rights which must be condemned by all men of conscience.

 

 

“The clock is ticking. Ishaku can deceive Nigerians. He can hire image launderers and political jobbers to rewrite history and call white black. But no kangaroo discussion panel on television or radio can change the demographic reality in Taraba State.

 

 

“North and Central Taraba whose predominantly Muslim population constitutes more than 69% of the total population will speak to Governor Ishaku in the language he understands at the next gubernatorial election.” #MuslimNumberMustCount

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

2023 ASPIRATION: EMEFIELE SHOULD RESIGN FIRST – MURIC

 

25^th February, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

2023 ASPIRATION: EMEFIELE SHOULD RESIGN FIRST – MURIC  

                                   

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank and an alleged presidential aspirant, to resign first before campaigning for the presidency. MURIC, a human rights advocacy and apostle of good governance insists that following due process will prove that Emefiele respects decorum, law and order.

 

 

The organisation articulated its position on Friday, 25^th February, 2022 through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads :

 

“We are in possession of a campaign leaflet authored by a group called ‘Friends of Emefiele’ which is canvassing for the candidature of the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, in the coming 2023 presidential election. We have a principled position on this.

 

 

“As a bona fide Nigerian, Dr. Godwin Emefiele has every right to aspire towards the highest post in the land having met the conditions stipulated in Section 65,105 and 131 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides that a person shall be qualified for election in the various elective offices if he or she is a citizen of Nigeria and has attained the age of 35years.

 

 

“As a human rights advocacy and apostle of good governance, we recognise the right of every Nigerian to exercise his or her right in a democratic Nigeria and we will welcome credible candidates regardless of their ideological, ethnic or religious background. We do not doubt Emefiele’s credentials but he should follow due process.

 

 

“The last time we checked, however, the Governor of the Central Bank is still in public service and Nigeria’s public service rules forbid someone in such position from participating in electioneering campaign or contesting an election. It is also a gross infringement on electoral rules and regulations.

 

“Sections 66, 107, 137, and 182 of the Constitution disqualifies any person employed in the civil or public service of the Federation or State and does not resign, withdraw or retire from the employment before the election.

 

“We therefore call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call the Governor of the Central Bank to order. A man sitting on the nation’s wealth cannot be allowed to violate the electoral law with reckless abandon. Emefiele should do the needful by resigning his position in the public service before plunging headlong into the 2023 electioneering campaign.

 

 

“This is not about Emefiele alone. MURIC will not embark on witch-hunting. The same treatment should be extended to any other aspiring candidate who is still in public service. Those who aspire to leadership positions must learn to respect the law. Only thus can they claim the moral right to lead us.

 

 

“This advocacy is neither motivated by ethnic bias nor religious sentiment. For instance, former Senate president Anyim Pius Anyim is now in the race but we have nothing against him. So are many others. All we are after is due process and respect for the laws of the land.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ABIA KILLINGS : DON’T RETALIATE – MURIC

 

23^rd February, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

ABIA KILLINGS : DON’T RETALIATE – MURIC

                                   

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to Northerners not to avenge the death of about fifteen (15) Northern traders and 150 cows killed in Abia State last week. The Islamic human rights organisation said the appeal is motivated by its desire for peace in Nigeria.

 

 

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Wednesday 23^rd February, 2022 by the director of the rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads :

 

“About fifteen (15) Northern traders and 150 cows belonging to the victims were killed in Abia State blast week. The killings occurred on Tuesday, 15^th February, 2022 at the New Cattle Market in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state.

 

 

“Although we are aware that this is not the first time such dastardly act would occur in South Eastern Nigeria, we strongly appeal to Northerners not to contemplate retaliation. Our main reason for the appeal is the need for peace in the country at this point in time when we are approaching the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

 

“MURIC strongly condemns the killings which occurred in Abia last week. Indeed, we condemn all killings and all criminal acts, whether perpetrated by herders, ethnic militia or separatists. Life is sacred and no homo sapien has the right to unlawfully take the life of another.

 

 

“We charge Northerners to remain patient and law-abiding. This attack in Abia in particular was intended to provoke the North into counter-killings which may spiral into another orgy of violence culminating in a civil war. The North should not even bite the bait, talk less of swallowing it. The cost is too high.

 

 

“However, MURIC commends Northerners generally for exercising patience in the face of extreme provocation. The North has held back its anger each time its people are killed, harassed and intimidated by Southerners. Our records show that this has occurred several times particularly in the last seven years without the North attempting to retaliate once. We salute both the Northern youths and elders and urge them to hold on and continue the display of maturity and reticence.

 

 

“We mourn all those who lost their lives as a result of killings around the country and we pray that Allah will give their families the fortitude to bear the losses. We also pray for enduring peace, political stability as well as economic prosperity in our dear country, Nigeria.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC ACCUSES CAN OF PLAYING RELIGIOUS POLITICS

 

21^st February, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

MURIC ACCUSES CAN OF PLAYING RELIGIOUS POLITICS     

                                   

The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has said that CAN will mobilise all Christians in Nigeria to produce a Christian president in the 2023 presidential election. But the Kano branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Christian umbrella body of playing religious politics.

 

 

A statement issued on Monday, 21^st February, 2022 by the chairman of the Kano branch of MURIC, Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa, said CAN was misleading its followers by claiming that Christians have the number to install a Christian president without Muslim input.

 

 

His statement reads :

 

“The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has said that CAN will mobilise all Christians in Nigeria to produce a Christian president in the 2023 presidential election (https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2023-well-mobilise-christians-to-produce-buharis-successor-can/).

 

 

 

“Rev. Ayokunle spoke in Jos yesterday, Sunday, 20^th February, 2022 during an interview with journalists after delivering a church sermon on the theme ‘Defeating your enemies through the power of unity’ which was held at COCIN Church, Rahwol Kanang, Jos, Plateau State.

 

 

“It is rather unfortunate that whereas global best practices dictate that emphasis should be placed on merit instead of religion in the choice of leadership, CAN is fanning the embers of religious politics. Ayokunle is making a ridiculous claim of a Christian majority status in the Nigerian demographic architecture. It is false, myopic, parochial, untenable and unacceptable.

 

 

“Where did he get the data? What is the basis of his claim? He should know that such a claim will awaken the political consciousness of Muslims in the country. Why wouldn’t he allow the electorate to choose their preferred candidate based on merit, credibility and integrity?

 

 

“The claim that Muslims have always ruled the country is neither here nor there. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a Christian from Eastern Nigeria, was the first president of this country. He was followed by Aguiyi Ironsi, also a Christian. Then came Yakubu Gowon, another Christian. That is three Christians in a row. Did the Muslims complain?

 

 

“So what is wrong if a Muslim president emerges after President Muhammadu Buhari? That will be just two Muslims, not three back-to-back like the Christian rulers did. Tolerance necessitates patience. CAN needs to exercise patience. They should think of others when making demands. They should also remember what they have enjoyed and allow others to have their share.

 

 

“MURIC has canvassed for a Yoruba Muslim candidate for the next political dispensation and a capable Yoruba Muslim candidate has emerged. We stand on that mandate. Muslims North and South have decided to give the 2023 mandate to a Yoruba Muslim in order to halt the persecution of Yoruba Muslims by their Christian neighbours.

 

 

“Nigeria is not for only one group to dominate. Christian leaders should stop giving their followers false hope. It can lead to frustration which, in turn, is capable of leading to unjustified anger against the system. Christian leaders should give responsible sermons. They should also eschew religious politics.”

 

 

Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa,

Chairman, Kano Branch,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).