5th February, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
BAD ECONOMY: WE ARE ALL TO BLAME - MURIC
In the wake of outcries from Nigerians over the current economic
downturn, a faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO), the Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC), has cautioned against unnecessary lamentations. The group
contends that every Nigerian is blameworthy. It therefore advocates patience,
change of mindset, stoppage of the prevailing culture of waste, hardwork and
buying made in Nigeria goods.
The group spoke on Monday, 5th
February, 2024 via its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The full statement reads :
"The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has noted the lamentations
over the present economic doldrum. Complaints have been loud and clear from
various organizations, regional bodies, opinion leaders, private individuals,
etc.
"But we must stop crying over spilt milk. Neither should we
continue blaming the government because there is more than enough evidence to
show that all these are self-inflicted pains. It is now time to turn
inwards and examine ourselves. It is time for sober reflections.
"Things are tough, very
tough. That is a fact. But they did not just become tough this morning. Neither
should we lay the whole blame on a seven-month old administration. We are all
to blame and we, the people, must take the lion share of the blame. We must
face the bitter truths now.
"Many of us exhibit
excessive love for luxury and comfort. Ostentation led many to dance on their
fathers' graves. A culture of waste led to the tying of goats to guests' chairs
at social functions. It led to the 'aso ebi' syndrome whereby at least two
thirds of those who buy it do so on credit. It led to spraying our currency and
its concomitant abuse. For some, even thirteen cows are not enough for a single
wedding, The venue must also be the most expensive event centre in town because
that is the only way the event will be the talk of the town for a long time.
"Our consumerism is nauseating. All we do in Nigeria is to
consume. We produce virtually nothing. Yet we want the naira to be strong. The
youths have deserted the farms, leaving only old and fragile looking farmers
who now hire mallams to plant ordinary yam and corn. We work like ants but eat
like elephants. We sent invitation to suffering a long time ago.
"Many of us are lazy, yet rapaciously greedy. It is true that
some politicians are corrupt but so are the ordinary citizens. Nigerians blame
the police for corruption but they themselves are worse. The carpenter will ask
for ten planks of wood just to build a single desk and chair. The mechanic will
syphon fuel while servicing the car. Lecturers make money out of students. The
latter cheat in exams and now believe school is a scam. The youths leave the
country at will, seeking better life where their parents
"We are always willing to hang every blame on the government.
But we, the people, are the real spoilers and NAFDAC registered saboteurs. The
Lagos State Government fixed streetlights on the long bridge at Iba for the
safety and comfort of Lagos citizens but all the facilities were removed within
two weeks.
“The macadamised Second Niger Bridge which the Buhari
administration completed recently is now being vandalized. That bridge had been
abandoned by past administrations for more than forty years and Nigerians travelling
in the South East saw hell within the period until it was completed. But no
sooner than it was eventually put to use than vandals started destroying it.
Can we blame government for that? Tracks newly laid for the modern Buhari
trains are also being stolen one by one. Did Bola Ahmed Tinubu come down from
Aso Rock to do that?
“The economic depression we are experiencing today is the bed we
made or failed to make yesterday. But we must lie on it whether it is a bed
of roses or a bed of thorns. How can we start passing the buck now when we all used
bedsheets of our various choices?
“What is the way forward? Like the Glorious Qur’an says, the way
forward is to change our ways. In chapter 13 verse 11, the Glorious Qur'an
asserts that the predicament of men will not disappear miraculously unless and
until they change their ways (Qur'an 13:11).
“After agreeing to change
our ways, the next step is to exercise patience. Anger and hasty conclusion
whereby we cast all the blame on our leaders will not solve any problem. Neither
will demonstrations, strikes and destruction of public properties. We must know
that it is the poor who will fall victim of violent demonstrations because we
can hardly reach the wealthy.
“We must stop this culture of waste, no more night parties. ‘Aso
ebi’ must become a thing of the past. Our marriage, child-naming, house-warming
and funeral ceremonies must be moderate from now on. Happy marriages are not
measured by the number of cows slaughtered or by the status and charisma of the
musician that played at the wedding. A moderate marriage ceremony can be
conducted within the premises.
“Let us take good care of
our parents when they are still alive. The sumptuous food served at funeral
parties constitute certificated tomfoolery when parents died of kwashiorkor. We
have seen the video clip of a Nigerian who buried a whole Lamborghini jeep in
the same grave with his mother. If we truly love our parents we will not start
dancing and spraying money after their death. We give the impression of saying
goodbye to bad rubbish.
“Our young ones must be creative. Every youth must start something
on his own. Cottage industries must spring up in every corner, every alley and
every backyard. We must stop strengthening the economy of other countries by
buying and consuming foreign goods. We must patronize the little produced
locally. We must stop this practice of deliberately hurting our foreign
exchange. We must stop idolising the dollar.
"Nigerians should change their lifestyle and orientation. Government
must adopt an aggressive ‘back-to-farm’ policy. The citizens must live within their
means. Our lawmakers must tackle corruption frontally by making corruption a
capital offence: the law of ‘Steal and Die’.
“Before
becoming Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu was widely known
to be kind hearted and philanthropic, but he will be spoiling us today if he
comes out of the villa to plant yam for us. Even Allah, the Supreme Creator who
made fishes for us in the ocean will not bring the fish to our kitchen. We must
find the hook or net, dig up the bait and find the fish.
“MURIC salutes those who still remain on the farms, tilling the
soil to keep the nation's body and soul together. We doff our hats to modern
rice and yam farmers. We must join hands with them if we do not want to die of
hunger. We are all to blame for our present woes.”
#ChangeYourMindset
#Patience
#Hardwork
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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