MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

25^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has applauded the cooperation and mutual understanding between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, 25^th November, 2024, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the recent development as positive, progressive and commendable.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) yesterday instructed independent marketers to halt the importation of petroleum products from outside Nigeria citing the capacity of Dangote Refinery to supply the petroleum needs of the country (https://thenews-chronicle.com/nnpc-instructs-marketers-to-halt-petrol-imports-citing-dangote-refinery-capacity/).

 

“In the same vein, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had announced earlier that over 30,000 of its members are set to purchase petrol directly from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery (https://9jaeye.ng/ipman-to-buy-petrol-from-dangote-refinery/).

 

“Coupled with yesterday’s instruction from NNPCL that marketers should stop importing petroleum products henceforth, the recent developments are positive, progressive and commendable.

 

“Having monitored the relationship between the two major stakeholders in the petroleum industry (NNPCL and Dangote refinery) for several months and having observed that both of them have developed respect for each other, we have come to the conclusion that both of them should be applauded for eventually seeing the need for cooperation and mutual understanding in the interest of Nigeria.

 

“It only makes sense even to ordinary laymen that Dangote Refinery with a massive capacity of 650,000 barrels per day is in an ideal position to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs which, as at 29^th October 2024, stands at 50 million litres per day (https://www.thecable.ng/nmdpra-nigerias-daily-consumption-of-petrol-is-50m-litres/).

 

“The Dangote facility can produce far above local demand. This is a big plus for the country. Reuters News Agency has also confirmed that Dangote Refinery has a stockpile of 500 litres of petrol (https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/dangote-says-refinery-has-500-mln-litres-petrol-storage-can-meet-nigerias-demand-2024-10-30/).

 

“The national goal of reducing, ab initio, reliance on fuel import and eventually, totally halting it in order to make fuel self-sufficiency a fait accompli has been eventually actualized in our time.  

 

“With the recent revelation that Nigeria spends approximately N2.6 trillion monthly on fuel importation only (https://nairametrics.com/2024/06/09/nigeria-incurs-n2-6-trillion-on-fuel-imports-in-first-quarter-of-2024-up-46/), the ability of Dangote Refinery to supply all the petroleum needs of the country is a humongous blessing.

 

“MURIC salutes the Federal Government, the leaderships of NNPCL and Dangote refinery for making all these happen without collateral damages. In particular, NNPCL deserves special accolades for letting go and for maintaining iron-grip discipline in the petroleum industry as evidenced by the fact that prices in NNPC petrol stations are the lowest while fuel supply is most stable in them.

 

“The current achievement has been made possible by a combination of highly responsible professionals in NNPCL and a visionary businessman and African industrialist nulli secundus (Alhaji Aliko Dangote), a self-made and very resourceful business guru who has dedicated his life to the provision of the crucial needs of his countrymen and women.

 

“On the other hand, Nigeria is fortunate to have an NNPCL manned by highly experienced men who are endowed with high level integrity and unquestionable sense of patriotism.

 

“MURIC congratulates the Federal Government, NNPCL, the leadership and management of Dangote Refinery and every Nigerian citizen for eventually crawling out of the dark tunnel, at least in the oil sector.

 

“Hope is finally here. It has also been reported that Dangote Refinery has started exporting petrol to West African countries and earning dollars (https://www.thegazellenews.com/news/report-dangote-refinery-exporting-petrol-exports-to-wafrica-in-dollars/). What that means is that we have started generating foreign exchange. It is hoped that this will improve our forex crisis and stabilise the naira.

 

“But it is not yet uhuru. We urge Nigerians to adopt a positive mien about their country so that every other thing can fall in place. Attitudinal change is crucial to winning the war against low self-esteem. Let us think of Nigeria first in all our dealings.

 

“John Franklin Kennedy once said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’. Apart from several investments in other areas, Dangote gave a huge refinery to his country. Every Nigerian must see this as a challenge and ask himself or herself, ‘What is my contribution to Nigeria?’

 

“Before we drop the anchor, I invite Nigerians to ponder over this golden advice from the Glorious Qur’an, ‘Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change their own attitude’ (Qur’an 13:11).

 

#NNPCDangoteRapport

#NigeriaFirst

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

LAKURAWA: MAKE SULTAN’S SAFETY A PRIORITY – MURIC

 

23^rd November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

LAKURAWA: MAKE SULTAN’S SAFETY A PRIORITY – MURIC  

 

The Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security Services have been urged to make the safety of the Sultan of Sokoto a matter of utmost priority.

 

The call was made by an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) following recent reports that the new Lakurawa terrorist group is now operating in ten local government areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States.

 

In a statement circulated to the media on Saturday 23^rd November, 2024, the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC called for urgent proactive measures to ensure the safety of the Sultan in the face of the new threat posed by Lakurawa terrorists.

 

The full message reads:

 

“Latest reports indicate that the new Lakurawa terrorist group is now operating in ten local government areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States (https://punchng.com/how-lukarawa-terrorists-operate-in-10-sokoto-bauchi-council-areas/).

 

“According to some reports, they have more than 10,000 active fighters. They burn shops, impose fines and remove Imams who cannot speak Arabic (https://www.operanewsapp.com/ng/en/share/detail?news_id=2e62fd83f229af1ee8b7252c018bf777&news_entry_id=s184cdc5b241111en_ng&open_type=transcoded&from=news&request_id=share_request&share_from).

 

“We are all aware of the antecedents and modus operandi of terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria. They are known to have killed and kidnapped emirs, district heads and others. The Nigerian security agencies must prove their mettle by being proactive. We cannot afford any mishap around a distinguished personality like the Sultan of Sokoto.

 

“The twin status of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) makes his protection mandatory. It is a matter of national security. The security agencies must therefore make his person, family members, palace, convoy and entourage impregnable at all times.

 

“It is needless to reiterate the fact that as the leader of more than 130 million Nigerian Muslims, any untoward incident around the Sultan’s personality is capable of igniting unprecedented and unimaginable consequences.

 

“This is why the protection of the Sultan is not only mandatory but a sine qua non to peace in contemporary Nigeria. Terrorists may want to strike at the heart of the Sultanate to score a strategic point in contemporary relevance or to embarrass the security agencies and deride the Federal Government. We must not allow this to happen. To keep the Sultan safe is a task that must be done.”

 

#LakurawaTerrorists

#KeepTheSultanSafe

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

STOP ARBITRARY ARREST OF MUSLIMS IN OGBOMOSO – MURIC

 

19^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP ARBITRARY ARREST OF MUSLIMS IN OGBOMOSO – MURIC

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the recent spate of arrests of Muslim youths in Ogbomoso as arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious. While pointing accusing finger at the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the group called on the Oyo State Police Command to stop the ugly trend and remain neutral.

 

MURIC made the call on Tuesday, 19^th November, 2024 in a press release signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The release said:

 

“The Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum has cried out over the current spate of arrests of its members. Four Muslim youths were arrested and detained last week by the police.   

 

“Kasimu Owolabi was arrested in Ogbomoso on Monday 11^th November, 2024. He was taken to Eleiyele, Ibadan where he spent two nights. His release was secured on Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024.

 

“On the same day, i.e. Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024, another Ogbomoso Muslim youth, Adebisi Muritala, was arrested and moved to Ibadan where he also passed the night.

 

“Still not satisfied, the police again arrested two other Muslim youths, namely, Abdulsalam Abdullahi and Mustapha AbdulRahman, that same week.

 

“We are constrained to bring this disturbing trend to the attention of the Nigerian public. Muslim youths in Ogbomoso can no longer sleep at home. Neither can they walk the streets freely. Their attendance in the mosque to worship has been equally endangered as any of them can be picked up at any time.

 

“MURIC strongly condemns this spate of arrests. It is arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious. It is a barbaric attack on freedom of speech, a brutal assault on freedom of movement and a gross violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslim youths.

 

“But there is no smoke without fire. At least the last two detainees were allegedly picked up for leaking a petition reportedly authored from the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso. It was also alleged that the first detainee, Kasimu Owolabi, was arrested for ‘insulting’ the Soun during a protest held by Ogbomoso Muslims against the monarch. It is now obvious that Soun’s reign of terror is already in full motion.

 

“The allegations levelled against the Muslim youths run counter to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 39 of the constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression by stipulating as follows: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.

 

“Arbitrary arrest is an open contravention of Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says inter alia, ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.’

“By extension, Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s rights lay strong emphasis on the right of citizens of all countries to move freely within their borders.

“The question is being asked, ‘Why are Ogbomoso Muslim youths being hounded right, left and center?’ Well, the witch cried yesterday, the child died today, do we have to go far looking for the child’s killer? We do not have to consult any oracle to find out who is behind the spate of arrests.

 

“We charge the Oyo State Police Command to remain neutral. The command must discharge its duties with utmost finesse. Hounding Muslim youths merely for expressing dissent is unprofessional, unethical and undignifying for any police force that seeks and cherishes global standard behaviour. Oyo State Police Command must stop this wave of intimidation and suppression.

 

“One-time British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who ruled from May 1937 to May 1940 spoke of five evils: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. Those five evils have been fully manifested in Ogbomoso under a pastor turned totalitarian traditional ruler. The police have no business sharpening his weapon of tyranny. It is illegal to obey unlawful instruction.

 

“The danger here is that the king is visiting his tools of oppression on the Muslims of the ancient town. Something is terribly wrong if a pastor becomes king and starts targeting Muslim land for conversion to what it was not intended for and orchestrating the mass arrest of Muslims.

 

“MURIC calls for the enforcement of fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslims with immediate effect. We warn that Nigerian Muslims will not stand akimbo while the right to personal liberty of Ogbomoso Muslims in particular and that of any other Muslim anywhere in this country is compromised. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

 

#OyoPoliceCommand

#StopArbitraryArrests

#OgbomosoMuslims

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC

 

MURIC APPRECIATES EDO GOVERNOR-ELECT FOR APPOINTING TWO MUSLIMS AS COS AND SSG

 

18^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC APPRECIATES EDO GOVERNOR-ELECT FOR APPOINTING TWO MUSLIMS AS COS AND SSG

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed appreciation for the appointment of two Muslims as Chief of Staff (COS) and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) by the newly elected governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

 

This was stated in a statement issued on Monday, 18th November, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director of the Islamic human rights organization, MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

"The appointment of Mallam Gani Audu as Chief of Staff (COS) and Barr Umar Musa Ikhilor as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) by the newly elected governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been announced by the state government.

 

"MURIC celebrates Senator Monday Okpebholo as the most dynamic, most revolutionary and most visionary of our time. In addition, we congratulate him on his well deserved victory in the Edo State gubernatorial election of October 2024.

 

"These appointments will go down in the history of Edo State in particular and the whole of Southern Nigeria as the most liberal, most inclusive and most democratic. Not even any of the South Western states where Muslims are in the majority have been this good.

 

"It will be recalled that Muslims in Edo State had earlier called for fair representation in the political affairs of Edo State. By these two appointments, the governor-elect has demonstrated his readiness to listen to the yearnings of key stakeholders. 

 

“Not only that, he has also manifested the height of tolerance of other faiths. Unlike Muslim-haters and winner-takes-all elements who are unwilling to sit at table with Muslims in their states, Monday Okpebholo has shown that he is ready to rub minds with Muslims in his state and to share the dividends of democracy with them.

 

“It is important to note that chroniclers are already on the pages of history regarding how Muslims have been treated in Edo State by the governor-elect. Today was born from the wombs of yesterday while tomorrow is in the making. We will not forget those who treated us like fellow homo sapiens. We will like Okpebholo to be counted when prospective Christian presidential candidates are marching on Abuja.

 

“Well, like Oliver Twist, it is natural that we ask for more and it is not a bad idea particularly since we have shown appreciation, unlike the nine ungrateful lepers. (Luke 17:11-19).

 

“We remind the governor-elect of the need to still give Muslims a fairly good representation in his coming appointment of commissioners, board chairmen and members as well as heads of government agencies.

 

"We appeal to all citizens in the state, to cooperate with Okpebholo as he takes the state to the next level. A leader who toes the path of justice, equity and fairness deserves the support of all.

 

“We call upon Nigerians to understand where MURIC is coming from. We appreciate those who show understanding towards Muslims and respect their feelings. We are not irrational. Neither are we unnecessarily confrontational.

 

“We will shout your name to the hills, the valleys, the mountains and high heaven when you oppress us. But we will sing your praise till the angels register your name in the record of the righteous when you deal fairly with Muslims.”

 

#UpOkpebholo

#UpEdoState

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC

 

IT IS HATE SPEECH: MURIC TELLS MAN WHO ATTACKED TINUBU FOR ATTENDING ARAB-ISLAMIC SUMMIT

 

13^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

IT IS HATE SPEECH: MURIC TELLS MAN WHO ATTACKED TINUBU FOR ATTENDING ARAB-ISLAMIC SUMMIT

 

The allegation of violation of the Nigerian constitution made by a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Charles Udeogaranya, against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for attending the Arab-Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia has been described as hate speech, infantile and islamophobic.

 

The reaction was circulated to the media on Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

The statement reads:

 

“A former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Charles Udeogaranya, yesterday accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of violating the Nigerian constitution for attending the Arab-Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia. He also described the president’s action as impeachable (https://dailypost.ng/2024/11/12/tinubus-representation-at-arab-islamic-summit-offensive-impeachable-offense-apc-chieftain/).

 

“We are shocked by Udeogaranya’s shortsightedness and his decision to hobnob with sentimentalities. His allegation is motivated by anti-Muslim emotions and it can best be described as hate speech, infantile and islamophobic.

 

“We see no offence committed here if the president has attended a gathering under whatever aegis where solution to a raging war is being sought. More than fifty heads of states attended the summit and many of them came from non-Arab and non-Islamic countries. We thought all the noise about Muslim-Christian controversies were over. It is better for Udeogaranya and his sponsors to allow sleeping dogs to lie.

 

“His submissions were full of flaws. For instance, he claimed that Nigeria is a secular state. We corrected this wrong impression long ago but people like Udeogaranya love to buy books entitled ‘Common Errors in National Discourse: Failures Come And Buy’.

 

“They love to prepare only for failure in examinations. Nigeria is a multi-religious state. A secular state is one where religion is not recognized but Nigeria recognizes several religions and allows them to flourish.

 

“Also, he allegedly said ‘most Nigerians are Christians and that Nigerians firmly support Israel in all international matters’. Only a man who just dropped from Jupiter can make such a false, reckless, baseless and unfounded statement.

 

“Can he substantiate these? Can he cite at least two instances where and when Nigeria supported Israel? Udeogaranya may be suffering from desertification of terminological exactitude syndrome. He should check his facts again.

 

“Meanwhile nobody should take his allegations seriously. His call for impeachment should equally be ignored because it is meaningless, null, void and of no consequence. President Tinubu did not go for a tea party in Saudi Arabia. He went to serve this country. It is not easy to embark on trips.

 

“Records of the president’s speech at the summit have emerged. Tinubu addressed the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, highlighting Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.

 

“President Tinubu advocated for reviving the two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in the region and expressed deep concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and warned that ‘empty condemnations’ are not enough to end the conflict in Palestine, which, he said, ‘has persisted for far too long’ (https://punchng.com/tinubu-returns-to-abuja-after-arab-islamic-summit-in-saudi-arabia/).

 

“This contribution shows that our president has a clear picture of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his representation of Nigeria at the summit has not been in vain. Therefore, he deserves commendation for his efforts, not criticism.”

 

 

#ArabIslamicSummit

#TinubuRightOnSummit

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC