POLITICS: STOP NIGHT MEETINGS TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN

14^th November, 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

POLITICS: STOP NIGHT MEETINGS TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, yesterday urged women to join politics. Kemi Adeosun was also a former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State under Governor Ibikunle Amosun.      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) welcomes the honourable minister’s statement with immense pleasure. The active involvement of women in politics will inject strong doses of humanitarian feeling, love and concern for the plight of vulnerable Nigerians like the poor, elderly people and children.

We observe that although many married women want to join politics, their husbands are reluctant to cooperate with them due to their fear of prolonged meetings and particularly late night deliberations by politicians. It is also feared that family values may be eroded as women in politics are most likely to abdicate their responsibilities to their children.  Most women are also discouraged by the involvement of violence in Nigeria’s political arena.

If we may ask, why do Nigerian politicians hold meetings at night?  What is wrong with daylight deliberations? Are they not aware that there is something sinister about night affairs and deliberations in unholy hours?

What do they stand to lose if they eschew nocturnal activities? The Yorubas say ‘Ijakumo kii rin losan, eni a biire kii rin loru’ i.e. ‘The demon does not stroll out in daytime, neither does the nobly born engage in night crawling’.

It is our candid opinion that the campaign for the participation of more women in politics will remain dry, meaningless, fruitless and counter-productive until certain measures are put in place. These measures include:

1.  Politicians should stop overnight meetings;

2.  Nigerian politicians should wholeheartedly adopt a civilized political culture devoid of thuggery, hooliganism and all forms of violence;

3.  Political parties should introduce e-meetings for female members in committees to enable women to participate via info-tech facilities like e-mail, facebook and chatrooms on Whatshap and Blackberry messenger (BBM) without leaving their homes;

4.  Nigerian men should be encouraged via public enlightenment campaigns to develop a liberal disposition to women in politics and become more amenable to permitting their wives to participate in politics and

5.  Women intending to join politics should demonstrate faithfulness to their marital vows in order to win their husband’s confidence and support.

The acceptance of above measures will determine how prepared Nigerian politicians are about accommodating women in politics while the general attitude of women towards their husbands will also determine whether or not they are eligible to join politics. We want to see how parties attract female participants as we warm up for 2019

As an end note, it is our contention that the involvement of more women in politics will bring compassion to the hearts of politicians thereby reducing the heartless and wanton theft and waste of our common wealth.    

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

TRUMP VICTORY: SUSPEND US TRIPS

11^th November, 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

TRUMP VICTORY:  MURIC ADVISES MUSLIMS TO SUSPEND US TRIPS 

The Republican Party presidential candidate, Donald Trump, yesterday won the American presidential election.    

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) affirms that Trump’s victory has serious implications for Muslims in the United States and elsewhere around the world. His Americanisation of virtually everything coupled with his tortuous isolationism and a pathological obsession with Islamophobia calls for grave concern.

The contemptuous treatment of Muslims travelling in or out of America has long been a matter of serious concern to advocates of free movement and Allah-given fundamental human rights. Coupled with this is the horrendous policy of rendition whereby Muslims are kidnapped en route other destinations and forcefully taken to the dreaded Guatemala to face America’s notorious waterbodding and other forms of inhuman treatment.

The advent of Donald Trump is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The American President-Elect has divided America along racial and religious lines. He threatened to close mosques. He also swore to give Muslims a special data base in order to control terrorism.

Trump may be an iconoclast, but the Americans who voted for him were not deaf. They heard him loud and clear. They heard all his threats. The victory of Trump, particularly coming hot on the heels of Brexit, means that Western democracies are jettisoning globalization for nationalism.   

MURIC respects the wish of Americans to stand by their national interest. We call on Muslims around the world to also respect the wish of the American people to be left alone.

Nonetheless, we reiterate our avowed rejection of racist and hate speeches. We disown violent groups like Al-Qaidah and ISIS who instigate Muslims to kill Americans and attack American and Western interests. Qur’an 49:13 is a categorical vote for the universality of mankind and Islam is a religion for all nations. Therefore no nation should be set aside for hatred.

We urge Muslims around the world to nurse no malice against Americans over Trump’s victory and the likely fallout. It should be noted that few Americans support Trump’s weird policies. He won the election via the electoral college but received fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. The victory of Trump reveals the paradoxical underbelly of the world’s greatest democracy. American minority has had its way.

Finally, we appeal to Nigerian Muslims to suspend planned trips to the United States until they know which way the cat will jump. Any Nigerian Muslim who ignores this advice is on his own.

We also advise immigrant Muslims residing in the United States to return to their countries or be prepared for harsh treatments including increased Islamophobic attacks. Americans must be allowed to fix their own country.

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

MURIC HAILS BANIRE FOR OFFERING TO STEP ASIDE

8^th November, 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS BANIRE FOR OFFERING TO STEP ASIDE 

Dr. Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and hitherto National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), offered to step down yesterday pending the outcome of investigations into allegations that he offered N500,000 as bribe to Mr. James Agbadu-Fishim, a judge of the National Industrial Court.      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commends Dr. Banire for making this surprising offer. It is not only altruistic but uncommon and highly exemplary. Nigerian politicians have a lot to learn from Banire’s gesture. We are used to the sit-tight syndrome whereby public office holders ignore public outcry even when all indications point to their guilt.  

Banire comes across as the type of politician Nigerians need in this era of change. He has offered to step aside even when nothing seems to connect his party to the incident. Against his background as a brilliant lawyer of the Gani Fawehinmi Chambers and school of thought, this offer confirms his reputation in political circles as a radical element and a disciplinarian nulli secundus.

How many public office holders in Nigeria can do this today? How many have done it before? We cannot remember any. At least not in this country. It is only characteristic of politicians in advanced democracies. This is a commendable precedent and it calls for emulation. Banire is the pride of Nigerian youths and a model earnestly sought after.

MURIC advises the National Chairman of the APC, Chief Odigie Oyegun, to reject Banire’s temporary resignation. The rationale for our position is that the incident involved is not in any way connected with the party and Banire himself has given a very logical and satisfactory explanation concerning the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the money.

When did philanthropy become a crime anywhere in the world? The money was transferred in response to someone in distress who sent a text message. Ethics makes kindness payable in like manner. Nigeria must not criminalize generousity. How else shall we be our brothers’ keepers if we cannot respond to distress calls?

For the avoidance of doubt, Banire’s antecedent shows his propensity for philanthropy. Scores of indigent students in tertiary institutions enjoy his scholarship scheme. As a prominent Muslim leader, he single-handedly pays the salaries of staff of many Islamic organizations and sponsors many of their programmes. As an agent of change, he has succeeded in persuading many young and wealthy Muslims to support Islamic organizations.  

To cap the edifice, Banire is a highly respected Muslim leader and, in actual fact, the man who is effectively filling the vacuum created by the deaths of M. K. O. Abiola of blessed memory, Alhaji Wahab Folawiyo and Aare Arisekola Alao in Yorubaland today.

  

In conclusion, MURIC gives total support to the fight against corruption and we do not protect or fight for corrupt Muslims. We believe that any Muslim public officer who steals should be dealt with according to the laws of the land. However, anti-corruption agencies should not allow themselves to be railroaded into embarrassing innocent Nigerians just to prove that they can also go after APC chieftains. We will not stand akimbo while the names of credible Muslim leaders are dragged in the mud.

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

ATTACKS ON FRSC STAFF: CURB YOUR MEN’S EXCESSES

7^th November, 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

ATTACKS ON FRSC STAFF: CURB YOUR MEN’S EXCESSES

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recently berated indiscriminate attacks on officials of the traffic enforcement agency. There have been physical attacks on men of the FRSC in recent time. Three FRSC men were killed last week in Zamfara State.   

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) denounces these attacks. They are criminal, barbaric and despicable. Those who take up the challenge of reducing carnage on Nigerian roads deserve better treatment.

Nonetheless, we are constrained to observe that although FRSC men were highly respected when the corps was established in the eighties, the enchantment dimmed when some of them started departing from the noble goals and aspirations of the founders.

We strongly suspect that the general public began to lose appetite after noticing certain behaviours w9hich are incompatible with the mandate given to men of the FRSC. There are growing allegations of collection and demand for bribes from motorists, intimidation and arm-twisting gimmicks and ignoring overloaded vehicles for personal benefits thereby exposing other motorists to grave danger. Aware that Nigerians hate to part with their personal cars even for one hour, FRSC men have been accused of threatening to seize the vehicles of motorists who refuse to bribe them.

MURIC believes that attacks on FRSC officials may be part of the reactions of Nigerians to these excesses. We therefore advise the corps to improve on its services, add a human face to measures taken on the roads and desist from committing abuses against innocent Nigerians.

FRSC men are fond of stopping motorists on highways. This is very dangerous for many reasons. Armed robbers and kidnappers target stationary vehicles on highways in order to attack their occupants. Criminals have been known to disguise as FRSC officials on highways in order to carry out their nefarious activities. Vehicles stopped on highways often fail to start in such dangerous spots.

FRSC staffers are only expected to caution over-speeding motorists by waving and signaling at them to cut speed on the highways. Only overloaded vehicles and those whose drivers fail to use seat belts should be stopped and such action should not even be taken in isolated places.

We invite FRSC authorities to engage more in public enlightenment, to make themselves more visible on the streets and to desist from constituting any form of menace to travelers. In particular, FRSC should focus more on educating commercial drivers in all states of the Federation. We call on the general public to evolve a sane driving culture, to regularize vehicle particulars before their expiration and to respect all law enforcement agents, especially FRSC staffers.

As a last shot, we commend the FRSC for constantly reeling out traffic statistics and useful data on road accidents across the country. Such research orientation stands the Corps out as an elitist traffic control and monitoring agency. More of such studies are bound to re-engineer Nigerian motorists and build in them a civilized driving culture with best global practices. 

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