AGENDA FOR NEW OONI OF IFE

10^th November, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

AGENDA FOR NEW OONI OF IFE: IMPERATIVE FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE WITH MODAKEKE

The new Ooni of Ife, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of Giesi Ruling House, will soon complete traditional rituals of his coronation and begin the business of ruling his domain.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) congratulates the young and dynamic business mogul on his emergence as the new Ooni of Ife. We pray that his reign may be long, fruitful and peaceful.

We call the attention of the new Ooni to the preponderance of poverty, the absence of factories and the army of unemployed Ife youths. Apart from the Obafemi Awolowo University, there is hardly any presence of buoyancy in the city. We urge him to use his influence in the Nigerian and international business community to bring investors to Ile Ife.    

But this project of turning Ile Ife into a prosperous city may become fait accompli if there is no peace. Constant wars have been scaring both local and foreign investors away from Ile Ife. It has also distracted the attention of the youth from engaging in productive ventures. We therefore invite the new Ooni to usher in a new era of peace and stability.

Oba Adesoji Aderemi (late Oba Sijuade’s predecessor) ruled Ife peacefully for decades. There was no single incidence of violence between Ife and Modakeke. He consciously promoted peaceful coexistence between the two communities.

We believe that if it was possible for Oba Adesoji Aderemi to rule without fighting the people of Modakeke, it is equally possible for the young, talented and amiable Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to reign without fighting any war with his neighbours.  

The Ife-Modakeke wars defy logic. How can the Ife people tolerate people of other tribes like the Igbos and Hausas if they cannot tolerate the people of Modakeke who are also Yorubas?

There is no gainsaying the fact that Ile Ife is the cradle of Yorubaland. Tolerance and accommodation of Modakeke becomes imperative if the new Ooni must justify this enviable position. It is a lofty status which the Ooni must exploit to stamp his royal authority on the rest of Yorubaland and also to enjoy the confidence of the latter.

The new Ooni is the representative of Oduduwa, the ancestor of the whole Yoruba race. By implication, therefore, the Ooni is the father of Yorubaland. Engaging in internecine war with its neighbour certainly diminishes this historical status. The new father of Yorubaland must open his arms to embrace all Yorubas, including Modakeke.

All Yorubas must be welcome in Ile Ife. It is their ancestral home. There is no city in Yorubaland that does not trace its origin to Ile Ife. If, therefore, the Modakekes have come to Ile Ife sometime in the past as a result of pressure and the need for resettlement, they have come to the right place, the place from which they originated ab initio.  

MURIC charges the state government to lift Ile Ife from its current state of economic comatose. Ile Ife has a basically agrarian population. The farmers should be given direct assistance in order to boost food production. The state government is advised to pursue aggressive investment push for the city so as to open the door of employment for the youths.

The cradle of Yorubaland deserves the state government’s proper attention, not crumbs from the table. Posterity may find it hard to forgive state governments which push Ile Ife to the background in the scheme of things in Osun State.

The new Ooni is advised to avoid interfering in religious issues or meddling in the murky waters of politics. He should focus his attention only on those things capable of promoting the development of his people.

The open romance of the late Oba Sijuade with former President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling party brought the city into confrontation with the state government with the attendant dashing of hopes, frustration of the youths and retardation of development. The new Ooni is advised to tow the path of diplomacy for the progress of Ile Ife.

In the same vein, the undue interference in the affairs of the Ile Ife chapter of the Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria which led Oba Sijuade to order the replacement of the society’s choice of Imam, the sanctioning of the society’s chairman in Ile Ife and the closure of the society’s mosque at Ajamopo around 2006 was ill-advised.

A traditional ruler, particularly a non-Muslim, who takes such steps against an Islamic society in his domain has gone too far. It should not happen again. The new Ooni should avoid actions capable of sparking religious unrest in his domain.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

ALLOW WORK TO RESUME ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

22^nd October, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLOW WORK TO RESUME ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

The Federal Government (FG) allegedly declared yesterday that work could not continue on Lagos-Ibadan expressway due to financial constraint.    

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) finds this statement alarming and disappointing. Is FG aware of the strategic importance of this road? This is the only road plied by millions of Nigerians going in and out of Lagos. As the commercial hub of the nation, any disconnect between Lagos and the rest of Nigeria tantamounts to economic strangulation of the whole country.

How do we transport goods to and fro Apapa Port if the only access road is rendered unmotorable? Trailers who ferry these goods rely solely on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Unfortunately the road is in such a dilapidated state that even the trailers fall by the roadside on a daily basis. Yet there is no alternative since there is no reliable rail system yet.

The two companies (Julius Berger and the Chinese Construction Company) which started the work have done very well so far. All the parts of the road which they have refurbished are now very smooth and wide. But the areas yet to be covered are full of bumps and they are now getting worse by the day, particularly since the companies stopped working on them a few months ago.

The bumps are an eyesore and driving there is hazardous. Vehicles break down frequently on the rough surfaces while accidents are also common there as drivers either run into ditches or collide with those behind them as they attempt to avoid the bad portions of the road.

The bad spots have also been causing long vehicular queues thus turning a journey that should not last longer than one hour to one that lasts five or six hours. This is not good enough for our economy because Nigerians can do a lot for their country during those hours of waste and pain.

Worse still, Nigeria has lost so many of its crème de la crème to this road in the last seven years that only those who want to be counting dead bodies in their hundreds and on a daily basis will deprive Lagos-Ibadan expressway the necessary fund for refurbishing at this point in time. We cannot afford the retention of a culture of waste. Furthermore, almost all the spots where resurfacing was stopped by the two companies when the last regime refused to pay them now dangle the sword of Damocles over the heads of road users.

We are not oblivious of the fact that past regimes are to blame for the negligence. The immediate past regime of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan must have been responsible for the failure to pay the construction companies. But today the buck stops at President Muhammadu Buhari’s table. Government is a continuum. Buhari has inherited both the assets and the liabilities. Over to you, Mr. President. 

FG’s only excuse for suspending work on the road is shortage of funds. We can understand this particularly in these days of dwindling resources. But there must be a way out. FG can rearrange its priorities or enter into an agreement with local or foreign partners who have the required funds. The toll gates may come back as a way of recovering funds and paying back the partners. But work must resume on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

3000 IDPs IN DANGER IN KUKA RETA

19^th October, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

3000 IDPs IN DANGER IN KUKA RETA

About 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) whose camp is in Kuka Reta town are currently in serious danger. Kuka Reta Town is about fifteen (15) kilometers from Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State. Reliable sources confirm that the camp has run out of food supply, drinkable water and drugs.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is constrained to raise the alarm on the frightening situation in Kuka Reta IDP camp in view of the dangers inherent in the exposure of IDPs to such inhuman conditions. Apart from hunger, starvation, malnutrition and the likelihood of deaths, diseases such as cholera and diarrhea are likely to spread within the camp.

MURIC is confounded by the enormity of the danger and hardship to which IDPs in Kuka Reta camp are exposed. We condemn this culpable negligence on the part of the authorities. We therefore call on the Yobe State Government, the state’s arm of the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) and all aids groups in the state to address the issue with military dispatch.

In addition, we appeal to international donors and the world community at large to come to the aid of the traumatized people of North East Nigeria as it now appears the Nigerian government alone cannot bring succour to the more than 1.5 million people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

In conclusion, we reiterate the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish the North East Development Commission (NEDEC) to cushion the effects of economic degradation of the region after four years of brutal attacks, deliberate destruction of infrastructure and the attendant cessation of socio-economic life.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

MURIC CONDEMNS ARREST OF PREMIUM TIMES EDITOR

7^th October, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS SSS ARREST OF PREMIUM TIMES EDITOR

An editor of Premium Times, Ibanga Isine, was arrested yesterday, Tuesday 6^th October, 2015, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, while covering the court’s proceedings. He was set free late last night.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly condemns this arrest. It was unnecessary, uncalled for and a sheer flexing of muscles by men of the SSS.

MURIC reminds the SSS that journalists have duties to perform in the same way that security operatives have works to do. Neither should stand in the other’s way because their jobs complement each other. The SSS and other security agencies should therefore see the press as friends and not as enemies. The general public will not appreciate the diligence and sacrifice of security agents unless the media gives it the necessary publicity.

The Federal Government should therefore call the SSS to order. This single incident is capable of damaging the relationship between the press and the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. We warn that the freedom of the press must be jealously ensured if the democratic profile of this administration is to remain credible both within and outside Nigeria.   

Harassing members of the First Estate of the Realm is a sure way of digging the grave for any sitting government.We therefore urge the SSS to check the excesses of their overzealous staff. Every SSS operative should be re-engineered to respect civil rights and observe decorum while on duty.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

RETURN ARABIC AJAMI TO NAIRA NOTES

30th September, 2015  

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE: RETURN ARABIC ANJAMI TO NAIRA NOTES  

Nigeria will mark her 55th independence anniversay tomorrow 1st October, 2015 in the midst of socio-economic, political and security challenges. Although the military has succeeded in taking the battle to the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, kidnapping and armed robbery remain pains in the neck in the South. Electricity is gradually stabilising and signs of change are beginning to appear in the oil sector.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) feliciates with the Federal Government as the nation marks its 55th independence. We lay emphasis on the need to fully integrate various ethnic and religious groups in the country in order to enhance lasting peace and speedy economic growth. Every group must be given a sense of belonging so that all can consciously contribute its quota to the development of the country.

In this respect, we call for the reinstatement of the Arabic Anjami which was removed from the naira by the last administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan after subterranean pressure from some unpatriotic religious leaders. Nigerian Muslims regard the removal as an act of hostility taken to spite Muslims. We consider it as a step taken to satisfy a section of Christians who had been secretly agitating for the removal of Arabic graphics from some official emblems used in Nigeria. Above all, we see the removal of Arabic from the naira as absolutely unnecessary and an action taken by Jonathan to spite Nigerian Muslims.

We hereby state without any fear of contradiction that the use of Arabic as part of the graphics on our emblems does not in any way portray the imposition of Islam or its landmarks on Nigerians. This is so because Arabic stands parri pasu with English graphics wherever the former is used.

English graphics represent Westo-Christian civilisation while Arabic graphics symbolise Islamic culture. Those who insist that Arabic must be removed from our emblems nurse an agenda of domination by elimination. They are repressive elements who are not ready to coexist with Muslims as free Muslims. Rather, they are only prepared to coexist with Muslims as brain-washed, enslaved, subjugated and half-baked Muslims.

  MURIC affirms clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that Nigeria belongs to us all. Christians and Muslims must learn to coexist peacefully on equal footing.

We must learn to respect the culture, freedom and fundamental human rights of each other. Arabic or Anjami and English must be allowed on our naira notes and other emblems because they both signify the cultures of Christians and Muslims respectively.

Whoever insists on the removal of Arabic Anjami from the naira and from other emblems must accept the equal removal of English graphics from the same materials.

After all English is the language of the Bible as we know it in Nigeria and it is on our naira and all other emblems. In the same vein, Arabic is the language of the islamic scripture, the Glorious Qur'an and any opposition to its use as symbol in a multi-religious society like Nigeria implies deep hatred for Muslims, intolerance of people of other religions and lack of readiness to integrate muslims in the system.

  A large number of people in the North rely on the Anjami to read and write. English language means nothing to them. Arabic is used by the Shuwa tribe in Nigeria and removing it from the naira constitute a breach on their Allah-given fundamental human right. The removal of Arabic from the naira by the Jonathan administration caused a lot of havoc because it marginalised this section of the population from economic activities in the country.

Apart from this, Nigeria's West African neighbours use the Anjami to transact business with their Nigerian partners. This has been rendered futile since the arbitrary decision to remove Anjami from the naira was taken thereby affecting our balance of trade.   Jonathan was grossly unjust by removing Arabic from the naira. It was one of his worst moves.

As the first form of education in the whole of West Africa and as the first written and read language in Nigeria, Arabic deserves better treatment.

Arabic language was used in Nigeria as early as the 11th century. English language did not arrive until the advent of the British colonialists in the 19th century. That is a wide marging of 800 years. Is there justice in removing Arabic where English is retained?  How can Jonathan twist history with such reckless abandon? We demand justice. We demand parity. Here is an example of such issues over which Muslims nurse grudges. We are articulating it today because we believe in dialogue. It is our hope that the new Buhari regime will not allow extremists to hijack it before addressing it.  

In the true spirit of independence, Nigerian Muslims hereby demand the reinstatement of Arabic on all naira denominations from which it has been removed. In the interest of peace, we warn that Arabic Anjami should no longer be removed from any other naira denomination in futute. By the way, apart from massaging the ego of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and satisfying the narrow interest of Muslim-haters, what has Nigeria gained from removing Arabic from the naira? We appeal to the Federal Government to redress this wrong.

For meaningful progress to take place, post-independence Nigeria needs leaders who are blind to ethnic and religious prejudices. Religion is supposed to unite people and inspire love. It becomes a curse when leaders misuse it for personal gains. Any good Christian leader can take Nigeria to El Dorado so long as he does not marginalise Muslims. Ditto for any good  Muslim leader who treats Christians as equal partners in the Nigerian project.

In conclusion, we appeal to the Federal Government to quickly revisit the issue of the removal of Arabic Anjami from the naira. We reaffirm the readiness of Nigerian Muslims to coexist peacefully and on equal terms with their Christian neighbours. We urge Nigerian Christians to embrace their Muslim neighbours with open arms and vice versa. Unless we eschew subjectivity, Christians and Muslims will not be able to join hands with the Federal Government in its fight against corruption. Both the church and the mosque have vital roles to play in cleansing this country because 99% of Nigerian politicians and leaders belong to one religion or another. We must change them kneeling down or catch them while prostrating.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714