AVOID MISLEADING AND PROVOCATIVE HEADLINES : MURIC TELLS MEDIA

 

1^st January 2024

NEW YEAR MESSAGE:

AVOID MISLEADING AND PROVOCATIVE HEADLINES : MURIC TELLS MEDIA

 

The Nigerian media has been advised to avoid misleading and provocative headlines and reports. The advice was given on Monday 1st January, 2024 in a new year message by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

The full message reads:

 

"As Nigeria enters the new year 2024, we call attention to the need for the media to avoid misleading and provocative headlines and reports. 

 

 

"A good example is the recent publication by a Nigerian tabloid whose caption read 'SHOCKING REVELATION: As Sultan of Sokoto Explains why Muslims Killed over 150 Christains were killed in Plateau'

 

 

"This is very misleading and provocative. The worst part is that the report is false and the authors know it. The Sultan never made such a statement. 

 

 

"Interestingly enough, the content of the news did not match the sensational headline. The story only revealed how the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, affirmed that the recent killings in the Plateau was not driven by religious animosity. 

 

 

"But the publishers veered off course while giving the story a caption to falsely and maliciously portray the Sultan as admitting that it was Muslims who perpetrated the recent Plateau mayhem. Even the caption itself was full of errors which exposes the low level of the intellect of those behind the story.

 

 

“Provocative headlines that do not reflect the real story are very dangerous because most people will only read the captions without reading the real contents. Yet they will base their reaction on the small topic which seen by them.

 

 

"MURIC strongly denounces the practice of seeking to generate traffic to media sites through false, misleading and provocative headlines, particularly those that fail to match the story. It is selfish, wicked, unprofessional and unpatriotic. 

 

 

"This is the kind of caption that can set the nation on fire. There must be consequences for such reckless and dangerous publications. We believe that both the security agencies and those in charge of broadcasts and the spread of information should map out strategies for ensuring that culprits are promptly sanctioned. Nigeria will never become a sane society unless people are checked against recklessness and impunity. 

 

 

"Finally, MURIC charges Nigerians to eschew reckless statements and provocative publications as we go into the new year. Nigeria needs peace to grow. Let us understand our differences and learn to live with them instead of pursuing clashes of cultures."

 

#NigerianPress

#AvoidProvocativeHeadlines

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: MURIC COMMENDS TINUBU, ZULUM FOR FREE TRAIN, BUSES

 

27^th December, 2023

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:

MURIC COMMENDS TINUBU, ZULUM FOR FREE TRAIN, BUSES

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing free train rides during Christmas and the new year celebrations. The group also lauded the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for similar gestures. 

 

 

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, 27th December, 2023 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said :

 

"It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that the Nigeria Railway Corporation should provide free train rides to Nigerians during this Christmas season and the New Year up till 4th January 2024. He also gave instructions to the effect that 50% of transport fares should be subsidized in road transport companies for those who have to travel during the yuletide (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/12/27/yuletide-excitement-commendations-trail-tinubus-transport-subsidy).  

 

 

"In the same vein, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, approved free luxury bus rides to the South for 630 families during Christmas in order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on Christians in his state. It must be stated that Zulum has been offering this humanitarian gesture since he became governor in 2019 (https://theshieldonlineng.com/again-zulum-provides-free-christmas-transportation-to-south/). 

 

 

"His wife, Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum, also shared bags of rice, gallons of palm oil and cash gifts to 600 Christian women on Wednesday, 20th December, 2023 (https://blueprint.ng/christmas-borno-first-lady-shares-gifts-to-600-christian-women-others-4/).

 

 

"MURIC appreciates these humanitarian gestures coming from Muslim rulers to Nigerian Christians. These gestures bear eloquent testimonies of the true character of Muslims, particularly the act of giving with no strings attached. 

 

 

“We therefore commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for deeming it fit to lift the burden of the removal of oil subsidy off the shoulders of poor Christians in order to make them happy during this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities.

 

 

“These acts of kindness from Muslim rulers towards their Christian subjects are what we expect Christian leaders elsewhere to reciprocate particularly towards their Muslim subjects. It should also be the major preoccupation of Christian clerics and their followers instead of luciferous lies, anti-Muslim rhetoric and verbal halitosis directed at Muslim leaders.

 

 

“Religious crisis will become history if other leaders emulate these kind offers made by Tinubu and Zulum. It will eliminate mutual suspicion, diminish marginalization and enhance inclusiveness.

 

 

"In the true nature of Abrahamic faiths, we charge Nigerian leaders to make unconditional sacrifices in the interest of the poor. We call upon the citizens to commit themselves to sincere patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria without giving consideration to peer influence. Pure love for one's country does not stomach comparison with the unpatriotic actions of other selfish compatriots. This commitment should begin from this Christmas season but must not end there.

 

 

"Before we conclude this Christmas message, we strongly condemn the killing of about 60 villagers in Plateau State which occurred two days ago. We share the pain and anguish of the berieved. We urge the security agencies to up their game in the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians."

 

#TinubuFreeTrain

#ZulumFreeBuses

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

ALLOW MARRIED WOMEN TO BEAR THEIR FATHERS’ NAMES – MURIC

 

18^th December, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLOW MARRIED WOMEN TO BEAR THEIR FATHERS’ NAMES – MURIC

 

A call has gone to the Federal Government for a reform of Nigerian marriage laws that will allow married women to bear their fathers’ names. Making the call was an Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

A statement signed by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 18^th December, 2023, described the current practice whereby married women are forced to bear their husbands’ surnames as gender discriminatory, archaic and oppressive.

 

 

MURIC condemned the current practice for depriving women of their Allah-given fundamental human right to personal and parental identity in marriage. The group advocated the adoption of the women-friendly Islamic practice which allows married women to bear their fathers’ surnames after marriage.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“Our attention has been drawn to the plight of married Muslim women who are being disallowed by employers from bearing their fathers’ names. This amounts to forceful enslavement, denial of Allah-given fundamental human right to parental identity and wrongful dismissal of loco parentis.

 

 

“We condemn the current practice for three major reasons, namely, for generating confusion in the society, for creating a monumental identity crisis among married women and for depriving women of their Allah-given fundamental human right to personal as well as parental identity in marriage.

 

 

“Instead of this, we advocate the adoption of the women-friendly Islamic practice which allows married women to bear their fathers’ surnames after marriage.

 

 

“No woman dropped suddenly from the sky and even if some appear out of nowhere, they must have been born, bred, nurtured, buttered and marmaladed by certain parents before they grew up and matured into womanhood. Their education was also sponsored  by their parents at a time that the future husband probably knew nothing about them and spent no kobo on their upbringing and their education.

 

 

“It therefore beats logic, fairness and natural justice that a husband appears out of nowhere to commandeer a woman’s parental identity simply by marrying her. Such identity robbery also has its advantages.

 

 

“For instance, women who are educated are forced to advertise change of names to their husbands’ surnames after marriage in order to retain the validity of their documents and properties. It often becomes very difficult and sometimes impossible for married women to be located or to retain old friends due to such change of name.

 

 

“Those who want to be sincere among married women today will confirm the stress they have gone through from this experience. Islam sets women free from such stress by permitting married women to retain their original family names.

 

 

“Contrary to the general claim that Islam discriminates against women, Islamic liberation theology actually teaches respect for the dignity of women in all circumstances. One of such circumstances is the period when women are in wedlock. Whereas Western civilization robs married women of their original family identity by insisting that they should bear their husbands’ surnames, the Shari’ah allows women to bear their own fathers’ names even after marriage.

 

 

“We therefore invite the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to set the machinery in motion towards allowing married women to bear their fathers’ names. In particular, we charge both houses in the National Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives, to introduce the necessary bills that will set Nigerian women free from undue masculine domination.

 

 

“This advocacy is not for Muslim women alone. We are certain that Muslim women are not the only ones who feel the pinch. MURIC will love to see every married woman who desires to be identified by her father’s name enabled to do so. Our lawmakers should frame the clauses in such a way that all women can enjoy the freedom to choose between bearing their fathers’ names or their husbands’. It is time to set Nigerian women free. They are the mothers of our society.

 

 

“We contend that the whole gamut of women liberation struggle boils down to a sham and a mirage until this goal is achieved. A married woman is not a slave. She is not just a dot in social statistics. She has a soul and that soul yearns for love. She covets to love and be loved, not only by her husband but also by her family and vice versa. Nigeria must not fail her. Parental identity is sacrosanct. Husbands can never replace fathers in matters of parental identity and that is what the current system compels women to go through. Enough is enough.”

 

#LetNigerianWomenBreathe

#SetTheWomenFree

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

SHUN LGBT ACCORD – MURIC

 

2^nd December, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

SHUN LGBT ACCORD – MURIC

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been advised to shun the LGBT accord which will legalise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) in Nigeria. The advice was given by an Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Saturday, 2nd December, 2023. The statement was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“Western countries under the aegis of the EU-ACP have been putting Nigeria under pressure to join countries that legalise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationship.

 

“This has always been the goal of globalization from the onset. We reject this concept. It is evil, immoral, luciferous and abominable. It is also against the order of nature. Allah created all in pairs of opposite sex. How can life continue if we turn it to same sex?

 

“Any agreement signed with the Satanic LGBT group will contravene Nigeria’s Anti-Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013. This law was designed to protect morality and sanity in the Nigerian society. We endorse this law and we assert that it must remain sacrosanct.

 

“Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) clearly condemned homosexualism when he said, ‘Do you lustfully approach men instead of women? No, you are an ignorant people’ (Glorious Qur’an 27:56). He also said, ‘You approach the men of all creatures and you leave your wives whom your Lord created for you’ (26:166-167).

 

“It was for this satanic act that Allah destroyed the people of Lut in Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘When Our command came, we turned that city upside down and rained layer upon layer of clay on it’ (Glorious Qur’an 11:83).

 

“Neither does the Bible endorse lesbianism and homosexuality. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says homosexuality will prevent those who engage in it from entering the kingdom of God.  Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 29:13 affirm that it is an abomination for a man to lie with another man as he would with a woman. Paul the apostle said homosexuality results from a rejection of God (Romans 1:26-27).

 

“Homosexuality is straight from the pit of hell as far as Nigerian traditional practices are concerned. Nothing like it has surfaced in our history. Our ancestors were conscious of an Almighty Creator who arranged nature with divine wisdom, pairing masculine with feminine. They never permitted any pollution or deviation.

“MURIC calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shun the LGBT accord. But at the same time Nigerians must understand that there is no gain without pain. Those Western countries whose immoral ideas are rejected are most likely to hit back at our leaders or Nigeria as a country through some other means. Nigerians must be prepared to make sacrifices. We cannot eat our cake and have it.”

#ShunLGBT

#PresidentBolaAhmedTinubu

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

NOBODY CAN RUBBISH BUHARI'S ACHIEVEMENTS - MURIC

 

 

14^th December, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

NOBODY CAN RUBBISH BUHARI'S ACHIEVEMENTS - MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has risen to the defence of the immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. The group insists that nobody could rubbish the good works of the former president whom it describes as standing tall among all past leaders of Nigeria. 

 

 

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, 14th December, 2023 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said:

 

"We as a group always find it amusing when some people try to rubbish the achievements of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. He stands tall among all past leaders of Nigeria. 

 

 

"Apart from the first prime minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, the former Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and former military head of state, Muritala Muhammed, no other Nigerian leader stands to be counted for altruism, patriotism, transparency, credibility and integrity like Muhammadu Buhari.

 

 

"Those who describe Buhari as a failure are either being deliberately mischievous for the purpose of scoring cheap political points or suffering from collective amnesia. Judged from the standpoint of the circumstances of the time, Buhari achieved a lot for Nigeria.

 

 

"17 local governments were still under the full control of Boko Haram when Buhari took over in 2015. It was so bad that the British Brodcasting Corporation (BBC) said Boko Haram was controlling the size of Belgium but Buhari pushed them back and recovered all territories. Nigerian troops who used to flee to Niger or Chad during fierce clashes with insurgents due to lack of better weapons became emboldened under the Daura-born president. 

 

 

"This was made possible because instead of diverting funds meant for weapons and military hardware, Buhari made Nigeria’s money count. He strengthened the military by purchasing the most sophisticated weaponry from everywhere in the world, including American Tucano fighting jets and attack helicopters. 

 

 

"This was a president who miraculously escaped the most deadly assassination attempt in history. He was exposed to the most perfect gas poisoning plot of all times and was pronounced dead by his adversaries on different occasions. But like the cat with nine lives, Buhari lived on. Of course this attempt on his life took its toll on him as he laid incommunicado for five months. 

 

 

"His list of achievements include, but not limited to, the Mambilla Hydropower project of 3050 megawatts which he started 40 years after it was abandoned. Buhari reduced out of school pupils from 10.5 million to 8.6 million in two years according to statistics from both UNICEF and UNESCO and introduced the feeding of over five million pupils every school day in 19 states. 

 

 

“Buhari also increased saving in Excess Crude Account and increased foreign reserves to $40 billion from $29 billion which he inherited. He constantly bailed out states with trillions of naira to be able to pay workers and run their governments. He reduced monthly import bill from $5 billion to $1.5 billion. The N-Power Volunteer Scheme created jobs for hundreds of thousands unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT. The construction of the second Niger bridge is a feat worth celebrating but nothing is being heard even from the region which enjoys it most.

 

 

"If those achievements could be seen as books, his magnum opus is the reintroduction of rail services in the country. Ibadan-Lagos, Abuja-Kaduna and Itakpe-Warri standard gauge rail lines will remain Buhari's bold signatures for a long time. The latter had been abandoned since 1987. This is why MURIC once described Buhari as the father of modern Nigeria. We still stand by this description. 

 

 

"If former President Muhammadu Buhari had been corrupt, the $2.1 billion spent on the Lagos-Ibadan railroad would have gone down the drain. The painful frustrating journeys to those destinations would have continued till date. Ditto for other railroads constructed by him.

 

 

"If Buhari had elected to divert the billions of dollars spent on the acquisition of weapons, the whole North would have fallen to the insurgents. But he closed his eyes to Nigeria's money and refused to be distracted by riches. Buhari had just two houses before he became president, one in Kaduna, the other in Daura, his hometown. He has not built an additional house even after eight years in office.

 

 

"That alone is a major achievement. This man should be celebrated. But unfortunately Nigerians love to hate him, particularly avaricious politicians who saw him as a stumbling block in their gluttonous desire to steal Nigeria dry. However, it is gratifying to note that hitherto, nobody has pointed an accusing finger at him for a missing kobo. Buhari remains the father of modern Nigeria."

 

#CelebrateBuhari

#BuhariFatherOfModernNigeria

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).