AK-47 PASTOR : MURIC DEMANDS ACTION

 

23^rd May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

AK-47 PASTOR : MURIC DEMANDS ACTION  

 

A call has gone to the security agencies to update Nigerians on the action taken against the AK47-wielding Abuja pastor, Uche Aigbe, who openly brandished a gun on the altar in his House on the Rock church, Abuja, this year.

 

Making the call on Tuesday, 23^rd May, 2023 was the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. According to him, Nigerians are beginning to suspect that the matter had been swept under the carpet. He therefore called on the security agencies to speak up on the issue.

 

His full statement reads :

 

“An Abuja pastor, Uche Aigbe, brought an AK-47 rifle to his House on the Rock Church on Sunday, 12^th February, 2023. By so doing, he caused a stir not only inside the church but nationwide. Although he was later arrested by the police and arraigned in court, Nigerians did not hear anything about the matter afterwards (https://punchng.com/tension-as-abuja-pastor-brings-ak-47-to-altar/).

 

 

“The Muslim Rights Concern is tremendously concerned about the threat posed by this ugly development and the impact which his sensational action has had on church goers all over the country. Pastor Uche Aigbe laid an extremely bad example which may have been picked up by Christian youths.  

 

 

“While we commend the police for steps taken to apprehend the pastor and charge him to court, we believe that followup actions are more important. It is the followup actions that will give assurance to the people that the matter has not been forgotten. It will also mitigate the fear of many. The judiciary rarely operate public relations but the police who took the case to court should speak up. Nigerians want to know about the progress made on the matter, if any.

 

 

“We must not pretend that the pastor’s action did not raise fears in certain groups, particularly among Muslims. It may have aroused suspicion about the existence of secret armories in church underground warehouses and tunnels. This may also have been fueled by stories of several cache of arms discovered by customs officials at the boarders in the past years.

 

 

“Exempli gratia, a huge cache of weapons was uncovered at Tin Can Island, Lagos on 20^th September, 2017. This was barely one week after 1,100 pump action rifles were seized at the port (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/09/20/customs-intercepts-another-cache-of-arms-at-tin-can-port/).

 

 

“In October 2009, a large quantity of arms and ammunition was found concealed in a 40-feet container in Apapa, Lagos by the same Tin Can command. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/customs-seizes-arms-cache/). Again on 12^th January, 2022, the Kwara State command of the Nigerian customs intercepted another cache of arms and ammunition worth over one million naira (https://tribuneonlinengcom/customs-seizes-large-cache-of-arms-in-kwara/).

 

 

 “Equally bewildering is the report of the existence of Christian militia in some states of the Middle Belt region (https://tribuneonlineng.com/middle-belt-group-says-military-operation-in-the-region-commendable/).

 

 

“This is why we would like the security agencies to extend their investigation beyond the surface even as the case proceeds in court. Pastor Uche Aigbe has stirred the hornet’s nest. Investigation into the source of his AK-47 must lead to a logical conclusion. His narrative of having gotten the gun from the police security at the church is a cock and bull story. The Ak-47 which he brought to church may have been hidden. He has accomplices and the police detail may be one of them. Nigerians want to know the truth.

 

 

“This is a matter of serious national security concern. The action of this AK-47 pastor may encourage Christians to start arming themselves and that is if they have not done that already. Pastor Uche Aigbe’s action may have been a coded message to Christians in the country. It is creating tension and generating fear among the populace.

 

 

“Equally noteworthy is the fact that the pastor took up arms close to the presidential election of 25^th February, 2023. We are surprised that the security agencies are yet to see the nexus between the religious halo which surrounded the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the ‘religious war’ referred to by the Labour Party presidential candidate and the AK47 rifle wielded by Pastor Uche Aigbe at the House on the Rock Church.

 

 

“We will be more surprised if the security agencies will allow the AK47-Pastor to walk freely into Eagle Square, venue of the presidential inauguration on 29^th May, 2023, less than a week from today. Nigerians will be more comfortable if he is kept under microscopic watch or, better still, under lock and key until the ceremony is over.

 

 

“Nigeria’s security problem will not be solved until the major stakeholders stop treating signs of sickness instead of the real ailment. The ailment is the root of the signs. It is the cause of the signs which we see and the sick will not get any cure until we treat the disease itself. It is the same with security matters. The root causes must be addressed in order to stem security threats. Pastor Uche Aigbe’s AK47 has become a root cause of religiously motivated gun attacks.

 

 

“We charge the press to live up to its bidding by showing the same interest shown in cases involving Christians in those involving Muslims too. We are miffed by the silence of the Fourth Estate of the Realm over this pastor who came brandishing a sophisticated weapon in the house of God. All hell would have been let loose if an Imam had done half of this. The press would not have allowed the authorities to rest until justice has been done. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

 

 

“MURIC demands action in the case of the AK-47-wielding pastor. We are no longer safe. The security agencies must up their game. They must also open up on the issue. An AK-47 rifle can only be licensed by the president of Nigeria. We appeal to the judiciary not to toy with the matter because Nigerians have great interest in it.”

 

#NigerianPolice   #ActionAK47Pastor

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC CONDEMNS THE HONORING OF MAJOR GIDEON ORKAR BY GOVERNOR SAMUEL ORTOM OF BENUE STATE

 

19th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

 

MURIC CONDEMNS THE HONORING OF MAJOR GIDEON ORKAR BY GOVERNOR SAMUEL ORTOM OF BENUE STATE

 

The decision of the Benue State government under the leadership of Governor Samuel Ortom to immortalize Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar by promising to name a 9.7km road after him tomorrow, Saturday 20th May, 2023, has been strongly condemned by the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC). 

 

The Muslim group described Ortom's action as immoral, illegal, insensitive, irresponsible and outrageous. 

 

The condemnation was contained in a statement signed and released on Friday, 19th May, 2023, by the Chairman, Kano State chapter of the Muslim rights body, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa.

 

He said:

 

"The Muslim group wonders what might be the motive of governor Ortom behind honoring a person found to have committed treason against the state and eventually tried, convicted and executed in July, 1990.

 

"Major Gideon Orkar masterminded a violent and bloody coup against the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in April 1990. However, the coup failed due to ethnic and religious undertone that accompanied the speech made around 4:00am on April 22, 1990.

 

 Orkar, in his radio broadcast to the nation, said he had seized power on behalf of the country's "Christian-dominated southern and Middle Belt areas", which he claimed had been "reduced to slavery" by the mostly Muslim north. 

 

"He, therefore, made a stunning statement by announcing the excising of five (5) Northern states of Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto from Nigeria. 

 

This led some patriotic military officers to rally in support of the Federal Military Government (FMG) when they found out it was a plot targeting their very existence.

 

"Although the coup was identified to be masterminded by Major Gideon Orkar, the trial and subsequent evidences showed that he was just a puppet and not the original mastermind behind the coup. The ideological arrowheads of the coup were Lt. Colonel Anthony Nyiam, Major Saliba Mukoro and Major Cyril Obahor. Intelligence findings further suggested it was at a later stage that Orkar was recruited to join the ill-fated coup plot. In fact, it was said that millionaire businessman, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru was the top financier of the coup. The coup attempt was said to been the bloodiest in Nigeria’s history. 

 

"Mr Orkar and 41 other plotters were captured by government troops and subsequently, tried and convicted of treason. They were executed by firing squad on 27th July 1990.

 

"So what feat is governor Ortom celebrating. Is he honoring Orkar for failure, or is it the daftness, foolishness or crass incompetence exhibited by Orkar that he is honoring? Orkar was known to be bigoted, unintelligent, irrational, amoral, disoriented and a drunkard. 

 

"Every responsible Nigerian should understand that one can only venture on a suicide mission by deciding to arbitrarily "excise" any part of the country without anticipating dire consequences.

 

"The just concluded 2023 presidential elections have poignantly amplified the futility of divisive politics. The Labour Party (LP) and its Presidential candidate Mr Peter Gregory Obi are yet to recover from the shock of the humiliating defeat they had suffered as a result of their ethnic and religious politics.

 

"We are surprised that, instead of governor Ortom to be remorseful of his past misdeeds and prepare to give account of his eight (8) years of wasted stewardship, he is now bequeathing another hate-filled and divisive legacy to the incoming administration. 

 

"For the past 8 years, Governor Ortom wasted much of his time in hate mongering and needless antagonism against President Muhammadu Buhari and refused to build bridges and establish pragmatism, especially with Northern politicians. His leadership lacks focus and has disconnected his state from the national scheme of things and as well as hurt the relationship between the state and other tribes. He practically made Benue a pariah state.

 

"We strongly berate Governor Ortom for blaming his nonperformance on herders’ attacks. Some States like Borno, Kaduna etc suffer consistent, devastating and more horrendous terrorist attacks but yet are able to execute and commission plenty of quality legacy projects.

 

"It tells a lot that Benue people rejected and revolted against Ortom by wisely voting for APC. No governor of Benue State had ever suffered such humiliating rejection.

 

"It is our fervent prayers that such shall be the fate of every fake and self-serving politician, especially the Muslim haters like Samuel Ortom." 

 

Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa, 

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

Kano State

 

 

KILLING OF US STAFF: BREACH OF DIPLOMATIC ETIQUETTE – MURIC

 

19^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

KILLING OF US STAFF: BREACH OF DIPLOMATIC ETIQUETTE – MURIC   

 

A Muslim rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the killing of US embassy staff in Ogbaru, Anambra, on Tuesday 16^th May, 2023 as a breach of diplomatic etiquette. The group spoke on Friday 19^th May, 2023 via its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said :

 

“We are deeply pained by news of an attack on a convoy of the United States Embassy. The killing of some of its staff is cowardly, inhuman and insensitive. This criminal act breaches diplomatic etiquette and violates all norms of human relations. It is callous and unacceptable. We strongly condemn it.

 

 

“The United States is a friendly nation and its citizens and government have done a lot to assist Nigeria and its citizens. No nation in the world offers humanitarian services, educational and job opportunities to outsiders like the US. American citizens and staff of its embassy do not deserve any act of aggression from Nigerians. This is why this killing of US staff stands logic on its head.

“Paradoxically too, the convoy was on a mission for a U.S-funded flood response project in Anambra. It is not in the African character, least of all Nigerian, to engage in hostile acts against our benefactors. That is why this attack must be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians, and it stands so strongly condemned.

 

“MURIC condoles the American ambassador to Nigeria, all staff of the US embassy, the US government and the good people of America over this unfortunate incident. We are deeply saddened. Our hearts are with you at this moment. We grief with the families of the fallen and we pray that Almighty Allah will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

 

                                                                   

“In like manner, we commiserate with the Inspector General of Police for the loss of two policemen in the gruesome killing. Policemen are human beings like all others. We mourn their death.

 

 

“As an Islamic human rights organization whose motto is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’, MURIC remains committed to a pacific prosecution of all issues without resorting to violence. We therefore call on all groups that are pursuing violent campaigns against the Nigerian state to drop their weapons and toe the path of peaceful negotiation.”

 

 

#Condolences      #USEmbassyStaff    #DialogueNoViolence

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

ALLOW SENATE PRESIDENCY TO GO TO SOUTHERN CHRISTIANS – MURIC

 

18^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLOW SENATE PRESIDENCY TO GO TO SOUTHERN CHRISTIANS – MURIC

 

As Nigeria approaches the 29^th May inauguration date of a new administration, newly elected lawmakers and politicians have intensified the lobby game. An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has also joined the debate. Though a Muslim group, MURIC wants the Senate presidency to go to a Christian from the South. The group has therefore called on all Muslims vying for the post to withdraw.

 

 

This was made known in a statement issued on Thursday, 18^th May, 2023 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“As the clock ticks away for the 29^th May inauguration date of the Bola Tinubu administration, elected lawmakers and politicians have intensified the lobby game. We have seen how the different geo-political zones as well as individual politicians and stakeholders have demanded key positions in the National Assembly.

 

 

“Chief among those positions is the Senate presidency as it is the Number 3 position in the country after the president and vice president. As a major stakeholder in the affairs of Nigeria, we have followed with keen interest the imbroglio which greeted the Muslim-Muslim ticket and how it ended in Nigeria having a Muslim President-Elect and a Muslim Vice President-Elect.

 

 

“In view of this outcome and considering the multi-religious character of our dear country, Nigeria, it is our considered opinion that the post of senate president should go to a Southern Christian. Nigeria needs the cooperation of both Muslims and Christians because only such collaboration can engender peace and development.

 

 

“Although we are a Muslim group, we believe very strongly that Muslims should not take all the top posts despite being the undisputed majority group in the country. Muslims must be ready to share power with their Christian compatriots. Politics is a game of give and take and Nigerian Muslims must play it right.

 

 

“We must all be ready to demonstrate willingness to work together as a people in spite of our religious differences. Afterall there is no Muslim electricity supply, no Christian roads, no Muslim public transport system and no Christian naira. Our problems are identical and whatever affects our country affects both Muslims and Christians together.

 

 

“A good example is COVID-19. Hunger knows no Muslim and malaria knows no Christian. Poverty is common among the adherents of both faith. Let us therefore share what belongs to all with love and find solutions to our common problems together.

 

 

“MURIC therefore calls on all Muslim candidates vying for the position of senate president to withdraw in order to allow Christian candidates from the South to have a free hand in the competition (preferably the South South because the South East has occupied the post on several occasions).

 

 

“In addition, MURIC tips any suitable candidate from the North West for the post of deputy senate president in view of the fact that the zone gave the largest number of votes to the party and the candidate that won the election.” 

 

#SouthernChristianForSenatePresident

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC WITHDRAWS THE WORD ‘JUICY’, REPLACES IT WITH ‘TOP’, APOLOGISES

 

17^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC WITHDRAWS THE WORD ‘JUICY’, REPLACES IT WITH ‘TOP’, APOLOGISES

The Muslim Rights Concern has apologized for using the word ‘juicy’ in a statement issued yesterday, Tuesday, 16^th May 2023.      

In the statement, MURIC canvassed for a top post to be given to Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State. The human rights group has since decided to withdraw the word ‘juicy’ which was used in the statement.

MURIC said:

“Our attention has been drawn to the word ‘juicy’ used in yesterday’s statement as not being decent enough. In the statement, we canvassed for a top post to be given to Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State in the incoming administration. We inadvertently used the word ‘juicy post’ instead of ‘top post’ It is not in our character to be insolent, loose or to use vulgar language.

“We hereby withdraw the word ‘juicy’ and replace it with the word ‘top’. We apologise to all those who might have taken note of the offensive word.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

EL-RUFAI DESERVES JUICY POST – MURIC

 

16^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

EL-RUFAI DESERVES JUICY POST – MURIC

 

A non-governmental organization and Muslim rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has thrown its weight behind Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for a juicy post in the incoming Tinubu administration.

 

In a statement issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 16^th May, 2023, the group hinged its position on the role played by El-Rufai and eleven governors from the North in ensuring that the South gets the mandate during the primaries as well as the support given by the same group to the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the new naira saga.

 

The group’s statement in full :

“As the days inch closer to the inauguration of the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian political spectrum has been inundated with power struggle intrigues and post allocation schemes. This is not new to us since we know that failure is an orphan but winners are always surrounded by all and sundry.

 

 

“However, we deem it germane to remind the President-Elect of the need to pay debts owed and appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. This is important in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.

 

 

“Gratitude is a major characteristic of a good Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an, “If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you…” (Qur’an 14:7). If the President Elect shows appreciation to the ‘Noble Dozen’ from the North, he will enjoy more of their solidarity.

 

 

“It is noteworthy that the ‘Noble Dozen’ (i.e. the twelve governors who insisted that power must shift to the South) was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. There is no Nigerian who is unaware of the unique support and unequalled solidarity given by this Northern group to the President-Elect. El-Rufai in particular left his palatial office in Kaduna to spend days in Abuja.

 

 

“His contribution to our victory, the victory of the Muslim-Muslim ticket is unquantifiable. He became the mouthpiece of the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp, moving from one media house to another. We must not allow all these to go in vain.

 

 

“In particular, we must remember the risk El-Rufai took as he stood between those in the corridor of power and their inglorious choices. We must not forget his bold confrontation of the central bank governor over the latter’s misguided, ill-fated and accursed naira discolouring.  

 

 

“It will beat all imaginations and expectations, particularly among Muslims, if El-Rufai is not considered for a juicy post in the cabinet of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have played national politics the way it should be played. But now is the time to be focused. Choice positions should not be allowed to go to political chalatans, fairweather friends, hypocrites and parasites. El-Rufai is a different cup of tea. He is tested and trusted. He is the icon of Northern dignity.

 

 

“To the President-Elect we have this to say: guard very jealously the good relationship and the alliance between the North and the South West. It is a union steeped in historicity. Compensate the North for its dignity and integrity without being unfair to the rest of the country. We bequeath to you the burden of Nigeria. Your road will be rough, no doubt about that, but with prayers and your well known administrative acumen and political sagacity, Almighty Allah will clear the bumps and roadblocks for you.”

 

#Tinubu   #RewardElRufai   #CompensateTheNorth

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)