MURIC COMMENDS OHANAEZE NDIGBO FOR INCLUDING ISLAMIC SCHOLAR IN PEACE COMMITTEE

 

21^st February, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC COMMENDS OHANAEZE NDIGBO FOR INCLUDING ISLAMIC SCHOLAR IN PEACE COMMITTEE

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has appointed an Islamic scholar of Igbo extraction, Shaykh Chief Haroun Ajah as a member of the Ohanaeze Committee for Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria.

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has commended the Igbo socio-cultural organization for appointing Chief Haroun Ajah. MURIC said the development is a positive one capable of engendering cordial relationship between Muslims and Christians in Igboland.

This was made known to newsmen in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 21^st February, 2024 by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director and Founder of MURIC.

The full statement reads:

“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, has appointed Shaykh Dr. Haroun Ajah as a member of the Ohanaeze Committee for Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria. The committee was set up by the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“We welcome this development and we commend Ohanaeze Ndigbo for taking this decision. We also hail the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, for taking this bold step. It speaks a lot of the leader’s dynamic and inclusive leadership style.

“With the formation of this committee, Chief Iwuanyanwu has opened a window for dialogue and the pursuance of peaceful negotiations capable of leading to lasting peace in the region and Nigeria in general. We assure Ohanaeze Ndigbo that Muslims in the region will cooperate with the socio-cultural group in its search for durable peace.

“Finally, MURIC congratulates Shaykh Haroun Ajah for this appointment. It is a mark of recognition as an intelligent, forthright and responsible Islamic scholar in his immediate environment.

#KudosOhanaezeNdigbo

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

STEER CLEAR OF IMAM OFFICE: MURIC TELLS SOUN

19th February, 2024 

PRESS RELEASE: 

STEER CLEAR OF IMAM OFFICE: MURIC TELLS SOUN 

 An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned the newly crowned Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, to steer clear of the office of the Chief Imam of the city in the interest of peace and tranquility. MURIC alleged that Muslims in the city have accused the Soun of making subterranean moves to replace the Chief Imam with his own favourite candidate. 

 The warning was handed down on Monday, 19th February, 2024 in a press statement issued by the Executive Director of the faith-based non-governmental organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 "Muslims of Ogbomosho have reported that the new Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, is already making surreptitious moves to remove the Chief Imam of Ogbomosho. He plans to replace him with a palace puppet. Already, there is palpable tension in the city of Ogbomosho due to this ugly development. 

 "We like to remind the Soun that first and foremost, as a Christian, he cannot pick an Imam for Muslims. Apart from being a Christian, kings have no business in the choice of Imams. It is the prerogative of Islamic scholars in that city. The king's duty is to cooperate with any Imam chosen by the Muslims of any city in maintaining peace and tranquility. Therefore, it is wrong for the Soun to poke his nose into the affairs of Muslims. 

"Besides, the king will be acting ultra vires if he attempts to replace the Chief Imam. Nothing in the laws of Oyo State, or any state in the South West for that matter, empowers the Oba to remove or replace an Imam. Any such attempt will be illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. The days of l’etat cest moi a la Louis XIV are over. We are in a democracy, Yoruba Muslims will not pander to royal excesses. 

"We hereby repeat inter alia our press statement of 8th January, 2024 captioned 'Stop Influence of Kings on Yoruba Imams - MURIC' (https:muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com/2024/01 stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams.html?m=1; https://theeagleonline.com.ng/stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams-muric/; https://theglittersonline.com.ng/akintola-13/; https://muslimnews.com.ng/2024/01/09/stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams-muric-says-practice-traceable-to-some-imamate-tussle-in-southwest/). 

"We have seen this in many Yoruba cities particularly whenever an Imam dies and a new one is about to be appointed. The kings often influence the choice of the new Imam particularly where the post is competitive. It is also the king who gives the Imam the staff of office. "This is an erroneous, archaic and obnoxious practice because the king has no role whatsoever to play in the imamate under the Shari'ah, particularly where Islam is not used as the form of government (a non-Islamic State). This is different from what applies in an Islamic state where Islamic political thought is the state policy and the khalifah is equally the Imam. 

"The greatest danger in this is that the Oba (king) may impose a Muslim favourite who has no appropriate prerequisites for the post of Imam on the Muslims. This has dire consequences. Already, some crisis brewing in some towns in Yorubaland can be traced to this ugly phenomenon. 

"It is even worse where the king is not a Muslim. A Christian or traditionalist as king dictating to the Imam or influencing decisions and steps to be taken by Muslims is a complete anomaly in Islam. It is absurd, illogical, irrational and therefore unacceptable. Many mosques have been ordered closed by non-Muslim kings using the most trivial and ridiculous pretext. 

"We will use every legitimate means at our disposal to stop this crude, divisive and selfish attempt to erode the freedom of Yoruba Muslims to choose their own leaders. It is sheer monachical autocracy characteristic of the ancient practice of African traditional rulers who sold their subjects to European slave masters for ordinary mirrors. The question is for how much is the Soun selling the Muslims of Ogbomosho to fishers of men? 

"We will not stand akimbo while the Soun reenacts this inhuman and sadistic practice of the imperialists. We therefore call on the Soun of Ogbomosho to leave the Chief Imam alone. Any further pursuit of this diabolical mission will be regarded as a declaration of confrontation with the Ogbomosho Muslim community. A word is enough for the wise. 

"Meanwhile we appeal to the Ogbomosho Muslim community, particularly the already agitated Muslim youths to remain calm and law abiding."  

#ObaGhandi 

#LeaveChiefImamAlone 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

BAD TIMES: NOT NIGERIA ALONE – MURIC

 

16^th February, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

BAD TIMES: NOT NIGERIA ALONE – MURIC

 

As the Nigerian economy continues to nosedive and pressure mounts, a faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised Nigerians not to destroy their own country over the current bad times. The group said great democracies like Britain, France, Canada and America are facing worse economic decline. It therefore advised Nigerians to exercise patience and caution. 

 

This was contained in a press statement issued on Friday, 16th February, 2024 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

The full statement reads:

 

"Reports came yesterday that the economy of the United Kingdom has entered recession (https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-uk-economy-enters-recession-as-gdp-drops-by-0-3). The report was quickly followed by another bad news that the economy of Japan has also slipped into recession (https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/japans-economy-slips-into-recession-weak-domestic-demand-2024-02-15/).

 

“Something must be terribly wrong with the world’s economy if great democracies like Britain, France, Canada and America are facing worse economic decline.  Nigerians in diaspora have been complaining of tough times and it all began with the COVID-19 lockdown when the world’s economy was totally shut down. Things have not been the same since then.

 

"Nigerians have two major lessons to learn from this ugly developments. Firstly, Nigeria is merely suffering from the bandwagon effect of a distraught global economy. We are not an island. What is happening to the naira and the skyrocketing prices is not isolated. Neither can we blame our leaders for it. It is a natural concomitant of events in a global village. We can only blame globalisation for it.

 

"Secondly, although there are reports of recession in those countries, their citizens have not resorted to violence. Public properties are not being attacked. Neither are there threats by their military to stage coups because they are sensible enough to know that the military are not trained for politics or management of battered economies. 

 

"The threat of a military coup allegedly issued by the former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida is therefore in bad taste and it is most unfortunate. We advise Nigerians to ignore him if indeed the report is true. 

 

The military's past incursion into politics brought Nigeria to where it is today. Characterized by lack of probity, total absence of accountability, disrespect for the rule of law, dehumanisation of the citizenry, tyranny, totalitarian dictatorship, etc, military rule is a hydra-headed monster which Nigerians must avoid at all cost. 

 

"The worst civilian rulers are better than the best military rulers. You can change a civilian president at the polls but you are permanently at the mercy of a military ruler. Military rule has no timeline whereas a civilian ruler has just four years to prove his mettle or be changed at the polls.

 

"We therefore urge Nigerians to shun all undemocratic attempts at changing the system. We are aware of incitements to demonstrations and some have actually taken place. We admit that demonstrations are our right to express grievances but we must be wary of hijackers whose evil plans are more luciferous than that of the authors of #EndSARS.

 

"Nigerians must not listen to those who incite them to destroy public property. Only sadists can look at the hundreds of brand new luxurious buses of the Lagos State Government which were all burnt down and feel a sense of achievement. Those buses were about to be launched for use as public transport by the citizens. We must never allow such madness again. 

 

"In keeping with the avowed motto of MURIC which is 'Dialogue, No Violence', we urge Nigerians to engage their leaders at the local, state and federal levels for ways and means of rubber-cushioning the effect of this economic downturn. We call on workers' unions to jaw-jaw with employees of labour without playing to the gallery."

 

#NotNigeriaAlone

#NoToMilitaryIntervention

#AvoidViolentDemonstrations

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

FULANI-BASHING: NIGERIANS MUST FIGHT CRIME, NOT TRIBE – MURIC

 

14^th February, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

FULANI-BASHING: NIGERIANS MUST FIGHT CRIME, NOT TRIBE – MURIC

 

A faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has cautioned Nigerians against profiling any particular tribe. Against the backdrop of many cases of kidnapping whose perpetrators turned out to be other tribes after Fulanis had been fingered as suspects, the group warned against jumping into conclusion that the Fulani tribe is responsible for all crimes in the country.

 

 

The warning was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 14^th February, 2024 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads:

 

“One of the challenges facing the Nigerian government today is criminality. But one of the reasons for its prolonged continuity is the wrong focus of Nigerians concerning who is responsible for crime, particularly kidnapping. Every incident of abduction that happens in the South West, South East or South South is blamed on the Fulanis.

 

 

“Attention is thereafter shifted from the real culprits. The security agencies swallow the bait and go on wild goose chases while the real criminals collect huge ransoms, get richer and become more powerful. This is one of the reasons kidnapping has remained a hard nut to crack in Nigeria.

 

 

“Take the case of the two Catholic priests of St. Vincent De Paul Fier parish recently kidnapped in Pankshin Diocese, Jos. The kidnappers demanded N25 million ransom to release Frs Kenneth Kanwa and Jude Nwachukwu. Social media went gaga in Fulani-bashing but findings later absolved Fulanis as the priests were allegedly abducted by insiders.

 

 

“One Christopher Yaro, a Christian, was arrested in Ijebu Ode on Monday, 11^th February, 2024 for masterminding the abduction of the two priests. His partners in the crime were allegedly four other members of the same church (https://tribuneonlineng.com/police-confirm-arrest-of-plateau-catholic-priests-kidnapper-in-ogun/).

 

 

“There was also the case of a pastor in Jos who staged his own kidnap and collected the ransom which was contributed by church members (https://www.thecable.ng/extra-pastor-kidnapped-self-twice-and-church-members-paid-ransom-say-police). Meanwhile the Fulani took the blame before the lid was blown.

 

 

“Ekiti State Police Command on Monday, 8^th November, 2021 paraded four suspected kidnappers who had been terrorizing the state in the past two years. As usual, the noise of ‘Fulani kidnappers’ rented the air but contrary to the old narrative, there was no Fulani among the suspects who were paraded. 

 

 

“The suspects confessed to the abduction of prominent Ekiti citizens like Alhaji Sulaiman Akinbami, a popular petroleum dealer, the wife of late Surveyor-General of the state, Dapo Osalusi and Olowo Bolaji in Ipoti-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area of the state (https://theeagleonline.com.ng/ekiti-kidnappers-were-not-fulani-muric/).

 

 

“The recent killing of three Yoruba Obas and the kidnap of others were blamed solely on Fulanis until an octogenarian, Pa Olowofela, a Yoruba, was apprehended by the police (https://www.nairaland.com/7993596/meet-olowofela-kidnappers-chairman-ekiti).

 

 

“There may be some wayward and criminal elements among the Fulani just as there are such proclivities among other ethnicities. But to hang every crime on a particular tribe is not only parochial, it is naïve, jejune and pedestrian. Nigerians should demonstrate maturity more than sixty years after independence.

 

 

“How can we allow fiction to rule our judgement in the face of glaring facts? Where is fairness and justice if we base every thinking and action on mere suspicion and base sentiment?

 

 

“This is why the Glorious Qur’an asks us to investigate every report brought to us before taking any action (Qur’an 49:6). Even the Bible said we should investigate all matters (I Thessalonians 5:21). It also warned us against the temptation to judge others. ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’ (Mathew 7:1-2).

 

 

“Unfortunately most Nigerians ignore these divine teachings and rush to determine the culprits behind every crime. Naturally they pin it on Fulanis. This is how we set aside the tenets of our faiths and pursue our whims and caprices.

 

 

“We reiterate our warning issued on 12^th November, 2021 in a statement captioned ‘Bursted: Ekiti Kidnappers Were Not Fulani’ where we said, ‘There can be no justice in any society which is run on rumours and false information. Profiling the Fulani is not the way to fight crime because it gives the real criminals undeserved alibi https://www.muricnigeria.com/bursted-ekiti-kidnappers-were-not-fulani-muric/).

 

 

“The perpetrators smile to the bank while we kill and maim innocent Fulanis and people of the Northern region. The homes of innocent Fulanis are burned down while the real kidnappers erect palatial mansions right under our noses.

 

“All the lies about Fulani kidnappers have now been blown apart. No matter how fast lies run and no matter how early it takes off, truth will overtake it in the end. Like vengeance, truth is a dish that tastes sweeter when cold. It is constant. It changes not. Truth is like a coin. It will always come down on its face no matter how many times it is tossed.

 

“We invite Nigerians to embrace divine truth. We must stop spreading lies. Let us eschew deliberate misinformation and fake news. The criminal exploits of many non-Fulanis have proved beyond reasonable doubt that there are criminals in all ethnicities and in all religions. We must stop ethnic profiling. It is time to halt Hausa-Fulani demonization. Nigerians must fight crime, not tribe, not region, not religion.”

 

#StopFulaniStereotype

#FightCrimeNotTribe

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

LEAVE MIYETTI ALLAH SECURITY OUTFIT ALONE – MURIC

 

9^th February, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

LEAVE MIYETTI ALLAH SECURITY OUTFIT ALONE – MURIC

 

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the Nigerian Police to recognize the Fulani Nomad Vigilante team which was recently launched in Nasarawa State on 17^th January, 2024.

 

The group also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, leader of Miyetti Allah who was arrested on 23^rd January, 2024  at the Tundun Maliya Cattle Market, Tundun-Wada, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

These demands were contained in a press release issued on Friday, 9^th February, 2024, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) launched a security outfit under the name Fulani Nomad Vigilante Team on 17^th January, 2024. But the Nigeria Police has since declared the vigilante team illegal and refused to recognize it. (https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/06/police-disown-miyetti-allah-security-outfit-in-nasarawa/; https://newsnownigeria.ng/police-disavow-miyetti-allah-security-outfit-in-nasarawa/)

 

 

“The leader of Miyetti Allah, Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, was also arrested on 23^rd January, 2024 at the Tundun Maliya Cattle Market, Tundun-Wada, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State (https://leadership.ng/dss-arrests-miyetti-allahs-president-for-setting-up-vigilante-group/).

 

“The refusal of the Nigeria Police to recognize the new security outfit established by Miyetti Allah is inexplicable. It stands logic on its head. Coming in the wake of complaints by police authorities concerning understaffing among other things.

 

“It is on record that even the new Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lodged the same complaint of understaffing when he met the House of Representatives in November 2023, just three months ago. The IG revealed that Nigeria Police currently has a 1:1000 ratio of police to citizens. It should be noted that the United Nations recommends at least one to every 448 citizens (ratio 1:448) (https://bnnbreaking.com/world/nigeria/nigeria-police-force-grapples-with-severe-understaffing-and-lack-of-resources/).

 

“We are therefore at a loss regarding what informed the police decision to disavow Miyetti Allah’s security outfit. Security experts maintain that security is everybody’s business and that it should not be left to the police alone. Why then is the police jittery over Miyetti Allah’s private security outfit?

 

“Nigeria’s security challenges are so humongous that our leaders, from ex-President Jonathan to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been under severe criticism over security lapses.

 

“The total number of our police force as at 2019 was about 317,000. The Department of State Security Services hovered around 33,000 while that of the Nigerian Army was approximately 100,000. With a population not less than 220,000 and rising astronomically on an annual basis, the IG’s fears must be seen as very real.

 

“This is where we have doubts about the sincerity of the Nigeria Police and its raison d’etre for refusing to recognize Miyetti Allah’s security outfit. It should be noted that the 2,140-man-strong vigilante group established by Miyetti Allah aims to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in addressing insecurity and promoting peaceful coexistence in Nasarawa State.

 

“We are all witnesses to the massacres of Fulanis in several parts of the country, particularly cases of cattle rustling. 131 Fulanis were mercilessly massacred at Kajuru local Government of Southern Kaduna on 10^th February, 2019. More than 1,000 Fulanis were systematically massacred in a span of seven months between June 2017 and January 2018.

 

“732 Fulani Muslims were massacred in the carnage which occurred in June 2017 in Mambilla, Taraba State. 82 Fulani Muslim women and children were killed by Batchama militiamen in Numan Local Government of Adamawa State in November 2017.

 

“In January 2018, 30 Fulanis were again killed in an attack by Batchama militia in Numan, Adamawa. On July 6, 2018, 14 Fulani Muslims were killed by gunmen suspected to be Nyandan militia in Lau Local Government, Taraba State. Yet another 24 Fulanis were mowed down in the same Lau Local Government few weeks after that. 96 Fulanis were also massacred in Kajuru about the same time.

 

“The same fear of insecurity that birthed Amotekun in the South West is enough cassu belli for Miyetti Allah’s Fulani Nomad Vigilante Team. The police should allow a level playing ground among all regional and local security outfits. Nature hates vacuum. It is the absence or insufficiency of security agencies in troubled areas that necessitated the creation of complimentary security outfits.

 

“MURIC urges the Nigeria Police to leave Miyetti Allah alone. Its security outfit should be allowed to operate so that Nigeria can move an inch closer to global best practices in security rating.

 

“In the same vein, whoever among the security agencies that is holding Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, leader of Miyetti Allah, should set him free.

 

“In compliance with the judicial principle of audi alterem partem (i.e. hear from both sides to a case before taking a decision), Section 36 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates right to fair hearing. The leader of Miyetti Allah must therefore be set free or produced in a competent court of law.

 

“Although Section 23 of the Police Act stipulates that suspects cannot be detained beyond 24 hours after which the person should be charged to court in conformity with the basic constitutional rights of citizens, Miyetti Allah leader has been in detention since 24^th January, 2024 in contravention of his Allah-given fundamental human rights as stated again in Section 41(1) on freedom of movement.  

 

“We remind the security agencies and the Federal Government that by holding the leader of Miyetti Allah beyond 24 hours, Nigeria is violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (of which the country is a signatory) on Right to Fair Trial (Article 10), Right to freedom from torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 5), Right to  presumption of  innocence until proved guilty according to the law in a public trial which guarantees legal defence (Article 11).

 

“Article 7(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights also stipulates the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court or tribunal. Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo should therefore be released from detention or arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction.”  

 

#RegisterMiyettiAllahSecurityOutfit

#SetMiyettiAllahLeaderFree

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

PRE-RAMADAN MESSAGE: MURIC TO MUSLIMS: DON'T LET NIGERIA FAIL

 

7^th February, 2024

PRE-RAMADAN MESSAGE:
MURIC TO MUSLIMS: DON'T LET NIGERIA FAIL

As Ramadan 2024 approaches, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to Nigerian Muslims to do all within their power to ensure that the Nigerian project does not fail. The group called on Muslims in the country to work for the progress of the country and to shun all acts of economic sabotage.

The appeal was contained in a Pre-Ramadan message issued on Wednesday, 7th February, 2024 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

"Although only the spiritually inclined are fully aware of it's closeness, Ramadan 2024 is now creeping up like an underwater swimmer. Its full manifestation on the surface is expected about five weeks from now.

"Coming at a time when Nigeria's economy is at its lowest ebb, with the naira in free fall and prices skyrocketing, 2024 Ramadan poses a potent challenge which the Muslims have no other choice than to grapple with. Yet it is a good opportunity for the Muslims to use the period to bring the nation's ship which is in turbulent water to calm currents.

"This is exactly what is expected of good Muslims as Ramadan approaches and when it fully materializes. Good Muslims have no other choice. They cannot and should not join spoilers. They cannot and should not join violent demonstrators.

"The Tinubu-Shettima administration was put in place by a majority Muslim votes on 25th February, 2024. Therefore Muslims cannot and should not be the ones that will bring it down. Neither should they be among those who would sabotage the economy. This good Muslim majority can build a good Nigeria. Nay, it should be at the forefront of the mission to rebuild Nigeria.

"A good majority Muslim population should translate into a good Nigerian people. That is why the Glorious Qur'an says, 'Cooperate in the doing of goodness and piety, and do not cooperate to perpetrate evil and aggression' (Qur'an 5:2). This is what Islam instructs Muslims to do. They must build their country. They must not be part of those who want to pull it down.

"It is our firm belief that good Muslims can re-engineer the fabrics of this nation to produce a good Nigeria. We are convinced that Allah has already provided all the ingredients of greatness for our dear country. That was why He told Adam (peace be upon him), 'There is enough for you in the land such that you will not suffer from hunger or nakedness. Neither will you suffer from thirst or the heat of the sun' (Glorious Qur'an 20:118-119).

"Our problem has always been the modalities for harnessing those ingredients. What do we lack in Nigeria? We are robustly blessed with human and material resources. Complacency is our major problem. The people to do it are there. The tools are there. But so far we have failed to use what we have to get what we need.

"As 2024 Ramadan approaches, Nigerian Muslims must ponder over the instruction to 'work' which Allah told Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to tell Muslims, 'Work, and Allah, His prophet and the believers will see your work' (Glorious Qur'an 9:105).

"Allah did not tell us to sit down at home and expect manna from heaven. He told us to 'work' on the farmland if we want to eat. He told us to 'work' in the factories if we want technological breakthrough. He told us to 'work' by digging the earth if we want to discover hidden minerals. The keyword here is 'work'.

"He also taught us to use the tools and ingredients which He gave us and never to allow them to be redundant. That was why He told Musa (peace be upon him) to 'throw it', i.e. to throw the staff in his hand when he faced the magicians of Fir'aon (Glorious Qur'an 20:19).

"Nigerian Muslims must 'throw it'. Throw (use) the cutlasses, hoes, shovels, etc in their hands. Allah has provided us with a massive fertile and arable land. For crying out loud, this country has a total area of 923,768 square kilometers (356,669 square miles) thus making it the world's 32nd largest country.

“Nigeria cannot lack manpower with a population of approximately 220 million people. Why then should we incur an annual food import bill of five billion dollars? Why? It is outrageous. Good Nigerian Muslims must produce food for Nigerians. Good Nigerian Muslims must make Nigeria great again.

"The woes of our naira require revolutionary actions. MURIC charges good Nigerian Muslims to buy made in Nigeria goods and patronize local service providers.

"We have received requests from Muslims who want MURIC to plead with the Federal Government (FG) concerning the cost of 2024 hajj. But we are going to disappoint those who made the plea. We must be realistic. This is not the time to start making frivolous requests, particularly anything that will put additional pressure on the naira. 

"We all know the rules and we know the state of the economy around the world. Hajj is the last of the five pillars of Islam and it is not compulsory if one does not have the means. What we should do if the price is too high this year is to wait for another year while we look for more money, if we can. Ceteris paribus, the naira will be stronger next year.

"Seeing the naira in such comatose condition, MURIC cannot, in good conscience, ask FG to worsen the country's foreign exchange imbroglio by sourcing for more dollars for the hajj operation. No responsible government will do that and we will not ridicule Islam and the Ummah by making such a laughable request. The situation demands a pragmatic approach. MURIC actually suggested some years ago that FG should steer clear of hajj. Nigerian Muslims can handle it. 

"Nigeria will be good if the Muslims who form majority of the population are good. Peer influence will do the rest. This is the challenge facing Muslims in 2024 Ramadan. We have a chance to turn things around. It is our hope that Christian leaders will also persuade their followers to join hands with us in the onerous task of building this country. Good Muslims with Good Christians will make Nigeria a great nation."

#GoodMuslims

#GoodCountry

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).