PULL DOWN YOUR VIDEO IN 7 DAYS OR FACE LEGAL ACTION: MURIC TELLS DAVIDO

 

24^th July, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

PULL DOWN YOUR VIDEO IN 7 DAYS OR FACE LEGAL ACTION: MURIC TELLS DAVIDO

   

Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, a.k.a. Davido, promoted a new music video by his new artist, Logos Olori, captioned ‘Jaiye Lo’, on his twitter handle on Friday, 22^nd July, 2023. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has given Davido and Logos Olori an ultimatum of seven days to pull down the video or face spiritual or legal action or both.

 

 

MURIC spoke on Monday, 24^th July, 2023, via its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“Logos Olori, an artist under David Adeleke, a.k.a. Davido, a Nigerian singer, recently released a music video with the caption, ‘Jaye Lo’. In the video, some people dressed in white jalabiyas like Muslims were seen praying the way Muslims do before launching into dancing as they recited some Quranic verses and prayed.

 

“Mats were spread for those praying behind an ‘Imam’ who used the popular single-prayer rug (sajadah). Those who were praying also read out what looked like Muslim recitations in Arabic language and prostrated the way Muslims do in prayer.  

 

“Logos Olori himself was seen sitting on the roof of a mosque-like building mounted with a horn public address system thus creating the complete impression of a mosque scenario.

 

“There is no doubt that the scene in the music video is the setting of a Muslim prayer session but mixing it with singing and dancing is utterly wrong in concept and grossly misleading in content. In like manner, sitting on top of a ‘mosque’ or what looks like it with the type of loud speaker used on top of mosques is most primitive, extremely serpentine and categorically unacceptable.

 

“Thousands of Nigerian Muslims have expressed displeasure with the new music video and the Nigerian media have published their reactions (https://punchng.com/muslim-fans-knock-logos-olori-davido-over-controversial-video/; https://leadership.ng/muslim-fans-slam-davidos-signee-logos-oloros-controversial-music-video/; https://dailypost.ng/2023/07/22/muslims-kick-against-davidos-signee-logos-oloros-offensive-music-video/).   

 

“Our office in particular has been inundated with complaints against this luciferous music video. Nigerian Muslims find the juxtaposition of Muslims in prayer session with the same Muslims singing and dancing offensive, repugnant and provocative.

 

“Logos Olori’s musical video is insensitive to Muslim feelings while Davido himself added salt to the injury on the Muslim anatomy by promoting the video in his tweet. There is no iota of doubt that both men, Davido and his signee have no modicum of respect for the faith of Islam. They have provoked millions of Nigerian Muslims.

 

“We remind Nigerians of several religious riots in the past which were caused by provocative artworks. Those religious riots claimed hundreds of lives while properties worth billions of naira were destroyed by angry rioters. What Davido and Logos Olori have done with this video is equivalent to seeking a repeat destruction of lives and properties in the country. All level-headed and right-thinking Nigerians, regardless of their religious affiliations, must condemn it.

 

“We therefore alert men of the Department of State Services to invite both men for questioning to explain why they chose to produce and promote a musical video capable of igniting anarchy in Nigeria.

 

“In the same vein, we invite the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to immediately ban the insensitive musical video captioned ‘Jaye Lo’ by Logos Olori.

 

“MURIC objects to the lame excuse often given by Nigerian agencies charged with moderation responsibilities who claim that separate petitions should be addressed to them by complainants before they can take action. It does not work that way in saner climes. Nigerian agencies must be proactive.

 

“They must spring to action from the moment attention is drawn to an infraction capable of causing a breach of the peace so long as the authors of the infringement have been identified and whether or not the information contained an appeal to the monitoring agency or agencies. The agencies are, essentially, an integral part of the general public. They should therefore act without being prompted.

 

“To expect separate petitions before taking action is to empower criminals, delay justice and encourage a culture of procrastination (which is the thief of time). We also believe that such agencies should be held accountable if trouble breaks out due to their lackadaisical attitude.

 

“We hereby give Davido and Logos Olori seven days ultimatum to pull down the music video or face spiritual or legal action or both. That video is a mockery of Muslim spiritual life and practice. We will therefore employ a spiritual weapon on those who attack our spiritual way of life.

 

“At this juncture, we call on Nigerian Muslims to start reciting Al-Qunut after seven days from today, Monday, 24^th July, 2023 if the horrendously offensive video is not pulled down within seven days.

 

“Nonetheless. we appeal to Muslims throughout the country to remain calm and law abiding. No Muslim should attack Davido or Logos Olori. Gone are those days of spontaneous violent reactions. A social and mental re-engineering campaign has succeeded in changing that perspective.

 

 

“For the avoidance of doubt and for the sake of microscopic clarity, we assert that we Muslims do not joke with our religion. Others may, but that is their cup of tea. It amounts to artistic fanaticism to erode on the freedom and happiness of others with any kind of artwork.

 

 

“It further proves our point that there is fanaticism in places other than religion. Extreme fanaticism exists in football and music. You are a fanatic once you love a football team or a music star to the extreme. On the other hand, a fanatical musician will manifest insensitivity to the faith of others. To this extent and from this perspective, Logos Olori’s ‘Jaye Lo’ is an exercise in musical extremism.

 

 

“MURIC will not stand akimbo while our religion is desecrated by those who lack respect for people’s faith. MURIC was instrumental to the banning of Falz’ ‘This is Nigeria’ video and the shaku shaku drug dance in June 2018. Logos Olori’s ‘Jaye Lo’ will suffer the same fate.

 

“Nigerian artists must learn to leave Muslims alone with their ways of life. We will continue to employ every legitimate means to stop them in their attempt to ridicule our faith. There are more than enough themes under the sky for artists to pick.

 

“We believe that it smirks of desertification of artistic versatility for any artist to insist on attacking the faith of any people instead of picking his or her theme from the rich diversifications which nature has availed all and sundry. A lazy artist deserves no crown.”

#NAHCONNotToBlame

#KudosNAHCONChair

#SaudiDecentraliseHajjOperations

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

HAJJ 2023: MURIC ABSOLVES NAHCON

 

23^rd July, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

HAJJ 2023: MURIC ABSOLVES NAHCON

   

Against the backdrop of complaints trailing the 2023 Hajj excercise, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has absolved the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) of any blame over a few hiccups in the process.

 

 

Rather, the group wants the blame laid squarely at the doorsteps of the host organisers of hajj, Saudi Arabia. MURIC argued that Saudi Arabia failed to decentralize operations and made every country to rely on its arrangements for feeding and accomodation. 

 

This was contained in a statement circulated to the media on Sunday, 24th July, 2023 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said :

 

"In spite of the expertise and tireless efforts put into preparations for the 2023 Hajj excercise, there have been hues and cries in certain quarters. In particular, complaints have been lodged over accomodation in Muna and poor feeding. 

 

 

“Our investigations have revealed that these are not areas of the operation controlled by NAHCON itself. We also found incontrovertible evidence that NAHCON officials also complained to Saudi authorities about these two major areas (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/607719-hajj-2023-nahcon-says-52000-nigerian-pilgrims-affected-by-tent-shortage-mulls-sack-of-saudi-firm.html; https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/06/27/nahcon-faults-saudi-arabia-authorities-over-poor-handlings-of-facilities-for-nigerian-pilgrims)

 

 

“Firstly, NAHCON complained when just 43,000 capacity tents were provided to cater for 95,000 pilgrims from Nigeria, thereby leaving more than 50,000 pilgrims without adequate shelter during their five-day sojourn in Mina.

 

 

“Secondly, the food provided by food vendors contracted by Saudi authorities was not satisfactory and NAHCON officials complained to Saudi Arabia authorities. We recall vividly how the NAHCON chairman, Dhikrullah Hassan, complained bitterly to the Saudi authorities.

 

 

“He said, ‘Time has come for you to hand off our food. We have argued repeatedly that we can handle catering by ourselves and you can regulate. This is because no matter how much money you spend on food, if you don’t do it the Nigerian way, it will not be eaten and the money is wasted. I am making this demand on behalf of Nigerian pilgrims and stakeholders’.

 

 

“He also added, ‘Return feeding to us. We can manage that ourselves. We can screen the caterer and ensure they have Nigerian touch. The foods you have been giving us have no Nigerian touch at all. Return the food to us and you can regulate it. We are controlling and regulating feeding in Makkah and Madinah’. NAHCON also demanded a refund for the food that was not supplied by the Saudi agents but was part of the agreement.

 

 

“What else do we want NAHCON officials to do? They are also guests in the holy land, not residents. They can only set certain standards. Implementation is in the hands of the Saudis.

 

 

“How can these limitations be blamed on Nigerian hajj officials? It is therefore not fair to blame them at all. They can only be held accountable if they had kept mute while the shortcomings lasted but they did not. It is noteworthy that the Saudi official in charge of the Nigerian section of the hajj operation, Badr Bakaakeek, admitted that his company failed to deliver.

 

 

“It is also on record that Saudi authorities eventually apologized to NAHCON officials for their poor handling of feeding, accommodation and similar logistic shortcomings (https://tribuneonlineng.com/hajj-saudi-authorities-apologise-to-nigerian-pilgrims-over-shortage-of-tents/).

 

 

“What other evidence do we still need that NAHCON officials are not to blame for any of the issues that arose during the 2023 hajj? These are men and women with years of experience in hajj operations and the chairman himself has led nothing less than eleven hajj exercises back-to-back.

 

 

“Members of MURIC were also physically on ground in Saudi Arabia and we can emphatically give testimony as to the commitment and diligence of NAHCON officials during the exercise.

 

 

“In view of the above facts, we must lay the blame squarely at the doorsteps of the host organisers of hajj, Saudi Arabia particularly for failing to decentralize operations thereby making every country involved in hajj to rely on its arrangements for feeding and accomodation. 

 

 

“MURIC therefore absolves NAHCON and its officials of any kind of blame over shortcomings in the 2023 hajj operation. Unfortunately, the Nigerian victims of the Saudi company’s ineptitude are not seeing this big picture. All they know is that NAHCON took them to Saudi Arabia and NAHCON must be blamed for every mishap that befalls them there. But things do not work like that anyway.  

 

 

“The admission of responsibility and the attendant apology tendered by Saudi authorities are interesting angles for those clamouring for investigation to look at, especially the House of Representatives. MURIC intends to keenly follow the procedure with a view to ascertaining that the panel will not be looking for a needle in a whole collection of haystacks.”  

 

#NAHCONNotToBlame

#KudosNAHCONChair

#SaudiDecentraliseHajjOperations

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC TO OSUN CAN: YOU ARE BACKING THE WRONG HORSE

 

22^nd July, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO OSUN CAN: YOU ARE BACKING THE WRONG HORSE

   

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reacted to a report that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Osun State Chapter has eulogised the Muslim Community of Osun State (MCOS) for its stand against MURIC on issues affecting Muslims in the state. 

 

 

MURIC described CAN's eulogy of MCOS as a gross miscalculation, shooting with both eyes closed and backing the wrong horse.  

 

This was disclosed in a press release issued on Saturday, 22nd July, 2023 by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said :

 

"The Osun State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday, Friday, 21^st July, 2023 poured encomiums on the leadership of the Osun Muslim Community (OSMC) over the latter's stand against MURIC on matters affecting Muslims in the state.

 

 

"CAN Osun chapter has simply demonstrated the gravity of its extreme naivety in Muslim-Muslim relationship. We assert clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that MURIC and the Osun Muslim Community are products from the same umbilical cords and no matter how CAN tries, CAN cannot divide us. CAN is simply taking paracetamol for another group's headache. 

 

 

"We therefore advise CAN Osun State to find something better to do instead of turning itself into a meddlesome rabble rouser between two Muslim groups who have a divinely ordained symbiotic relationship. 

 

 

"CAN Osun chapter should know that Muslims have a scriptural mechanism for resolving issues. We do not need any peeping Tom and unsolicited interloper to tell any Muslim group what to do or how to treat a sister Muslim organization. 

 

 

"CAN Osun State Chapter is a serial loser. We beat you in your own game when you instructed Christian students to dress in church choir uniform, masquerade and Sango attires to school in an attempt to cause anarchy.

 

 

“We told you at the time that you would lose because it was artificial. Did the choir uniform last? Do we still have any student wearing masquerade dress to school anywhere in Osun? Does any Osun student still go to school with Sango paraphernalia today? On the contrary, hijab-clad girls are in Osun schools in their thousands. Did you win? Of course CAN cannot.

 

"CAN cannot win because its premise is always emotion which must dissolve like ice cream under the burning sun. Contrary to your blind reliance on sheer sentiment, Muslims always rely on hard facts with the backing of the law. The hijab case in Osun schools went to court, did you win? Of course CAN cannot win. CAN cannot and never will. Come off it, CAN. Next time, think before you leap. You are backing the wrong horse.”

 

#CANLosesAgain

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ENDURANCE IS OUR BEST OPTION NOW - MURIC

 

21^st July, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ENDURANCE IS OUR BEST OPTION NOW - MURIC

   

An appeal has gone to Nigerians to endure the current economic hardship in order to reap the gains of long term planning and economic discipline in the days to come. Making the appeal on Friday, 21^st July, 2023 was the Executive Director of the Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said :

 

“The deregulation of the oil sector of the Nigerian economy which has been hailed by experts as a wise step must come with a price. It has necessitated the determination of prices of petroleum products by global market forces. This implies that even the Nigerian government can no longer fix the prices of petroleum products and it was not responsible for the latest increase from N488.00 to N617.00.

 

 

“The good news is that we have a sensitive administration which has shown concern for the plight of the common man. We have a president who has declared that the poor must not be strangulated by the current hardship. Palliatives are therefore being prepared to ease the pain without which there can be no gain.

 

 

“We therefore appeal to Nigerians to patiently wait for the palliatives. This hard time is the test of our faith, our patriotism and our resolve to reengineer our destiny as a people. But certainly hard times do not last forever, only patience does.

 

 

“Therefore, endurance is our best option now, not demonstrations, not willful destruction of public properties, not looting of shops and businesses belonging to innocent Nigerians. That is one thing we cannot afford to do at this moment.

 

 

“More than 16 people have been killed in the last seven days during demonstrations sparked by skyrocketing cost of living and newly imposed taxes in Kenya. France is just heaving a sigh of relief after weeks of violent demonstrations.

 

 

“Britain has been recently rocked by similar protests organized by workers, including nurses, doctors and university lecturers. We thought such things could never happen in Britain. These are Western nations which we assumed had reached El-Dorado standard but today we are baffled that they still have gargantuan economic problems and humongous social maladies.

 

 

“MURIC appeals to Nigerians to rally behind the Tinubu administration. WE have seen the concrete and pragmatic steps which he has taken as he squarely confronts Nigeria’s economic woes. Comments made by experts since the beginning of this administration prove that the man on the driving seat knows his onions and he is well prepared for the job of turning our economy round. All we need to do now is to endure, to have faith in the leadership and to patiently forbear for Nigeria.”

 

#EnduranceBestOption

#DoItForNigeria

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC HAILS ADELEKE, MAKINDE FOR DECLARING HIJRAH HOLIDAY

 

19^th July, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS ADELEKE, MAKINDE FOR DECLARING HIJRAH HOLIDAY   

 

A Nigerian human rights advocacy group has commended Governors Ademola Adeleke and Seyi Makinde of Osun and Oyo states respectively for declaring Hijrah holiday today, Wednesday, 19^th July, 2023. The human rights group, which spoke under the aegis of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), called on other states in the South West to emulate Osun and Oyo in showing respect for millions of adherents of the Islamic faith living in their states.

 

 

MURIC spoke through its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 19^th July, 2023.

 

He said :

 

“Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State declared today, 19^th July, 2023 as public holiday in recognition of the 1^st day of Muharram 1445 in the Islamic Hijrah calendar (https://dailytrust.com/adeleke-declares-wednesday-as-public-holiday-for-hijrah-1445/). The Hijrah holiday was also declared in several other states like Kano, Kwara, Jigawa, Kebbi, etc (https://punchng.com/islamic-new-year-oyo-kano-osun-declare-work-free-day/).

 

 

“We commend both governors for making this declaration. In particular, we appreciate Governor Makinde’s remarks which was contained in his pronouncement of the Hijrah holiday about ‘dedication to promoting inclusivity and celebrating religious diversity’ as well as ‘Oyo State’s commitment to upholding religious rights and beliefs of all citizens’.

 

 

“There will be greater inter-religious harmony if leaders give recognition to the faith of others and respect cultural diversities. The governor’s religion may not matter so long as he is openly fair to all.

 

 

“Both Ademola and Adeleke should lower their guards and appreciate MURIC for what it is. We will hold you accountable each time you shortchange Muslims. Yet we will not hesitate to appreciate you when you give us our due. Only an enemy of democracy and someone who has an anti-Muslim agenda will take offence for doing that.

 

 

“For instance, we reviewed our opinion about Makinde upon noticing the positive role he played in the emergence of a Yoruba Muslim as president. It implies that he is still ready to accommodate Muslims. Adeleke’s readiness to sustain the Islamic Hijrah holiday introduced in the Aregbesola era has given him a feather in his hat as a friend of Muslims, not an enemy.

 

 

“In this regard, we call on Governor Adeleke of Osun State not to entertain any fear about his faith. Every Dick and Harry knows where he belongs. Electorates of all faiths voted for him to become governor and they can do so again so long as he is fair to all.

 

 

“Muslims will reciprocate favourably towards any governor if he respects their faith and treat them with fairness and equity no matter the governor’s creed. The red lines are our civic liberties: respect the Allah-given fundamental rights of our children to use hijab in the schools, avoid infringing on our right to attend and observe the sacred Friday Jumu’ah prayer and give us our holidays (Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr, Maolud and Hijrah).

 

The Islamic human rights organization also advised states in the South West which did not declare the Hijrah holiday to do so without delay.

 

“We call on the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti to toe the line. The president of Nigeria today is a Muslim from the South West. It is our considered opinion that the Muslim president’s zone cannot afford to pursue anti-Muslim measures without staining the president’s good standing in the architecture of the Nigerian Muslim community.

 

 

“Such hostile posture against Muslims has consequences. It sends the wrong signals to the friends and allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in certain quarters. As we revel in the euphoria of today’s victory, we must allow our body language to align with expectations and hopes for 2027.

 

 

“Nigerian Muslims are very sensitive about the way their brothers and sisters of the same faith are treated within and outside Nigeria and we have no scintilla of doubt that this is likely to determine the way 2027 goes.

 

 

“In other words, we must eschew actions capable of alienating our friends and allies of February 25, 2023. It is called forward-looking diplomatic engagement. We expect the governments of Lagos and Ogun where Muslim demographic status is overwhelming to be the first to emulate Osun and Oyo while Ondo and Ekiti with substantial Muslim population follow suit.”

 

 

#KudosAdelekeMakindeForHijrah

#LagosOgunHijrahLongOverdue

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).