MURIC REJECTS ‘CONVERSION’ OF KIDNAPPED GIRLS

13^th May, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC REJECTS ‘CONVERSION’ OF KIDNAPPED GIRLS

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has released a video showing some of the girls kidnapped at a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State on 14^th April, 2014. In the video, Shekau announced that the kidnapped girls had been converted to Islam. He also threatened not to release them until some of their members in Nigerian jails are set free.

 

We reject the purported conversion of the kidnapped girls. It is cowardly, shameful, ridiculous and preposterous. It is sacriledge.  We affirm authoritatively that such conversion does not hold water in Islam because a non-Muslim can only be converted on his or her own free will.

 

We have no iota of doubt that the girls ‘converted’ under duress. Such ‘conversion’ is null and void under the Shari’ah. The Glorious Qur’an is very explicit in this regard as it says, “There is no compulsion in religion…” (Laa ikrahun fii ad-diin” (Qur’an 2:256).

 

The so called conversion is therefore baseless, unfounded and of no validity whatsoever. It exists only in the hallucinated imageries in Shekau’s demented mind.”

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urges the Federal Government to dismiss Shekau’s offer of exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the kidnapped girls.

 

A man who orders the invasion and kidnap of innocent young girls is honour-blind. Shame on Boko Haram! Shekau has no modicum of integrity left in his anatomy. He has no intention of honouring this deal. He is trying to buy time. He is digging in.

 

MURIC calls on all churches and mosques to pray for the downfall of Boko Haram. This renegade group is out to defame and distort the true teachings of Islam. Members of Boko Haram are rebellious subjects and enemies of peace.

 

We charge the Nigerian Army to go back to the drawing board and evolve more potent strategies for crushing this renegade group. To crush Boko Haram is a task that must be done.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

KIDNAP OF GIRLS: BOKO HARAM HAS VIOLATED ISLAMIC RULES OF WARFARE

7^th May, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

KIDNAP OF GIRLS:

BOKO HARAM HAS VIOLATED ISLAMIC RULES OF WARFARE

The insurgent group, Boko Haram, yesterday claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of about 273 girls of a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. The claim was made via a video clip in which the group’s leader, Shekau, threatened to sell off the girls. Another set of 8 girls has also been kidnapped in the same area this week.  

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and indeed the entire mainstream Muslim Ummah of Nigeria commiserate with parents of the abducted girls, the authorities of the affected school, the government and people of Borno State and the good people of Nigeria. We share the pain and the trauma of the past three weeks and pray that the nightmare will end in happiness for the victims and the rest of Nigerians.

 

MURIC hereby clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally declares the action of the renegades as categorically unacceptable. This criminal, inhuman, sadistic, archaic and barbaric act stands in contradistinction to the tenets of Islam regarding the treatment of the girl-child, women in general as well as the conduct of war.  

 

Islam promises the girl-child life, not death; hope, not frustration; liberty, not captivity. It was Islam which forbade the ancient and pernicious policy of burying female children alive (Qur’an 16:58-59; 81:8-9). The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) called men who are kind to women the best among men. He said, “The most perfect Muslims are the best in conduct and the best of you are the best in conduct to women.”

 

 He also said, “Whoever has a daughter and does not insult her but treats her equally with the male children, Allah will give him a place in paradise”. Where then did Boko Haram get its despicable doctrine which dishonours the girl-child?

 

The case of Boko Haram has become an interesting study in religious perversity. Islam teaches peaceful coexistence, Boko Haram insists on killing and maiming innocent people in the name of religion. Prophet Muhammad said, “Do not kill the monks in monasteries, and do not kill those sitting in places of worship” (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal), Boko Haram kills people inside churches and mosques. Boko Haram has indeed become a social gangarene which must be burned out with hot iron.

 

MURIC charges the leadership of Boko Haram to retrace its steps. Our daughters cannot be held captive even under Shari’ah law talk less of selling them into slavery because our cities are not at war with Boko Haram. It is only the military who are engaging the insurgents.

 

Civilian targets are therefore haram for Boko Haram. It is even most cowardly to focus attacks on soft targets like women and little girls. It beats all rules of chivalry. Real men do not brutalize little girls. This is why the Prophet forbade the killing, hurting or harassment of women, little children and elderly people during wars.

 

We call on Muslims in the conflict areas and those in  neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon to resist any attempt to sell these innocent girls in their territory. Islam does not promote slavery, neither does it condon forceful marriage.  

 

We call on the Federal Government to leave the anti-kidnap protesters alone. Peaceful protest is a legitimate means of expressing dissent. Instead of chasing shadows, the Federal Government should harness its anti-terrorism arsenals and disburse them effectively.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

2ND NYANYA BOMB BLAST: WE ARE ALL TO BLAME

2^nd May, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

2^ND NYANYA BOMB BLAST: WE ARE ALL TO BLAME

Another bomb exploded in Nyanya, Abuja yesterday allegedly killing ten people and injuring about a dozen others. The bomb was reportedly triggered off from a white gulf car parked a few meters away from the scene of the first bomb which occurred two weeks ago.

 

We are shocked beyond words not only by the audacity of the perpetrators but also by the failure of our security apparatus. The fact that this second explosion occurred almost at the same spot with the first one accentuates the grave danger facing Nigerians in the hands of terrorists and the seeming helplessness of the security agencies.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly condemns this dastardly act. We are also constrained to conclude that we are all to blame for the deteriorating security situation in the country.

 

The Federal Government (FG) takes the lion share of the blame for monopolizing the security agencies (police, army, etc) without allowing state governments to create complementary outfits contrary to international best practices. The same FG details too many security agents around top government officials leaving too few to protect the jamaheer (poor masses).

 

But because security is a corporate responsibility, the citizenry must share the rest of the blame. The police and other security agencies alone cannot secure lives and properties.

 

Security is a joint enterprise. The citizens must compliment the efforts of the security agencies with readiness to provide information. They must also be on the tip-toes of alertness.

 

MURIC therefore charges every Nigerian citizen to take up his or her own share of the responsibility. Terrorists are not ghosts. Henceforth, unfamiliar faces who park vehicles in our neighbourhoods must be challenged whether they try to leave the vehicle or remain seated therein. We must quickly inform the police if they cannot give satisfactory explanation. The same applies to strangers who attempt to abandon bags and baggages particularly in public places.

 

The security agencies must build confidence in the citizens to ensure their cooperation. They must therefore roll out concrete and verifiable facts to the public instead of figments of imagination and fabricated security abracadabra.

 

On its own part, FG must be more transparent, sensitive and accountable. FG must be willing to delegate some modicum of responsibility for the maintenance of security to the states. It must take pragmatic steps towards accepting states as partners in the crucial task of ensuring security.

 

Posterity will not forgive members of the National Assembly and delegates in the ongoing national conference if they turn deaf ears to the agitation for the creation of state police.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: GIVE CHRISTIANS THEIR DEMANDS

28^th April, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: GIVE CHRISTIANS THEIR DEMANDS

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has made certain demands in the ongoing national conference. This includes the establishment of ecclesiastical courts throughout Nigeria. There are other requests.

 

It is pertinent to note that this is the first time CAN has openly made such demands. We welcome these demands as they indicate a positive response to requests from the secretariat of the national conference and the call made by President Jonathan for all aggrieved and neutral groups to present their cases and requests. The latest submissions by CAN will no doubt move the dialogue machinery forward.

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have always asked Christians in the country to tell Nigerians what they wanted instead of always opposing what the Muslims want. It is our belief that if all stakeholders in the Nigerian project openly make their demands, the task of harmonizing our interests will become easier. We believe that demands which fall within the fundamental human rights of each group should be granted while no group should stand in the way of another so long as a group’s demand does not encroach on others’ rights. All groups should respect the ‘Live and Let Live’ golden rule.

 

It is in this respect that we are asking the national conference to approve CAN’s requests. We are not unaware the existing courts in the country which use common law are Christian courts. Even British Prime Minister David Cameron affirmed last week that Britain is a Christian country.

 

Yet unlike the hostile stand of CAN when Muslims demanded Shariah law, Islamic banking, etc, Muslims are prepared to tolerate Christian courts so long as the latter will serve Christians only and no Muslim will be brought before them. This was also the argument of Muslims when they made demands but our Christian neighbours defied logic when they opposed it.

 

MURIC appeals to Christians in the country to see their Muslim compatriots as partners in progress. Can is also advised to change its mindset regarding the national conference as it is obvious that its delegates came to the conference singing war songs. CAN has a perception complex whereas negotiations and dialogues require open-mindedness to succeed.

 

An example is the avoidable controversy started by CAN’s false claim that Muslims in the committee on religions were 12 while Christians were 8, making the total 20 members. It is gratifying that the secretariat of the national conference has debunked the claim. According to the secretariat in a statement issued on Wednesday 23^rd April, 2014, Muslims are 11 while Christians are 10.

 

MURIC is constrained to assert that although the secretariat was right on the total number of members of the committee (21), it erred regarding the number of Christians and Muslims. It is Christians who have the higher number of 11 while Muslims have the lower number of 10.

 

The search for numerical exactitude has revealed that Professor Layi Erinosho (No.7 on the list in the secretariat’s statement) whom the secretariat categorized as a Muslim is, indeed, a Christian. Professor Erinosho who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, is the secretary of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria.

 

But why was he listed as a Muslim? It will appear that wonders will never end in this ongoing national conference. The conspiracy against Nigerian Muslims in the national conference started with the manipulation of the list of delegates.

 

It was so cleverly done that even President Jonathan was not aware that the number of Christians nearly doubled that of Muslims. The same scenario of figure-juggling is emerging again from the secretariat.

 

MURIC calls the attention of discerning Nigerians and indeed the entire world to the mature dispensation and great patience manifested by Nigerian Muslims in this matter.

 

We were shortchanged ab initio in the number of delegates. Our great leader the Sultan of Sokoto advised that instead of taking any rash decision, we should take our case to President Jonathan. This we did about four weeks ago. Nothing has been done to date in spite of the president’s promise to address the gross imbalance. We therefore remain oppressed.

 

Instead of the aggrieved Muslims to show aggression, it is the over-pampered CAN that is exhibiting unfettered belligerence and making false, baseless and unfounded allegations. Muslims have not been complaining before except when it becomes absolutely necessary. It is not because we are fools but because we care very much about the unity of this country.

 

There are so many issues, peripheral and tangential, over which the Muslims could have raised eyebrows but we keep quiet in the interest of peace and stability.

 

Contrary to CAN’s allegation that it was Justice Idris Kutigi who handpicked Nurudeen Lemu, a Muslim from his state as chairman of the committee on religion, it is didactic to note that the secretariat confirmed in its press statement that the chairman had actually excused himself from choosing the chairmen of committees.

 

It is quite glaring, therefore, that if the Muslim chairman did not choose the chairmen of committees, he gave a free hand to his Christian vice to do so. Page 3 of the secretariat’s press statement says this much.

 

We advise the Christian body to infuse integrity and sincerity of purpose into its maneuvers particularly in the national conference because unless we are all transparently honest with ourselves Nigeria may come out worse than it was before the conference began. This is why we should not keep malice. Let us open up our hearts and declare charity for all.

 

Finally, we advise the delegates of CAN and those of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to remember that there are issues other than religion begging for attention in the national conference.

 

These are issues on which both Christians and Muslims agree. We all want good security, regular power supply, good roads, efficient public health delivery system, effective public transport system, qualitative education, end to corruption, etc. Let us address these issues and stop whipping up primordial sentiments.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PRESS RELEASE: CAN IS BLACKMAILING NATIONAL CONFERENCE

23^rd April, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

CAN IS BLACKMAILING NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday accused Justice Idris Kutigi, Chairman of the National Conference, of religious bias against Christians in the appointment of chairmen of committees.

Speaking through Sunny Oibe, its Director on National Affairs, CAN in a press statement issued on Tuesday complained about the composition of the committee on religion which CAN claimed is chaired by Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu.

Perhaps we should start by raising a point of correction. The committee on religion is co-chaired by a Christian and a Muslim, not just by a Muslim. The Christian co-chairman is Bishop Felix Ajakaiye.

We are perturbed that a religious body can openly indulge in subterfuge. CAN has deliberately ignored the macro to focus on the microcosm. CAN should tell the world the number of Christians and the number of Muslims at the national conference.

How can a body which takes the lion share of 303 complain about bias in favour of a group that has 189? It beats imagination. There is only one logical conclusion here, namely, that CAN is playing smart, blackmailing the national conference to ensure a win-win situation.

Where exactly is the injustice done to CAN? The committee on religion has two chairmen: a Muslim and a Christian. Imagine CAN disowning the Christian co-chairman, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and the Christian member, Jonathan Obaje. It is laughable. CAN claims its co-chairman is representing Ekiti State at the confab and not CAN! Yet this co-chairman bears the title ‘bishop’. What is CAN’s problem?

It further goes to prove the Muslims right. MURIC had complained that Christians dominate the delegates from the South West and that Christian clerics were selected as Yoruba delegates. Ironically, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye who is representing Ekiti State is now being rejected by CAN. The question we should ask CAN is who would the bishop vote for in case of a division? Will he vote in favour of the Muslims? The world can now see who is being too clever by half.

Christians have an oppressively overwhelming majority of 303 while Muslims in the conference are just 189. Although the Muslims have gone crying to the father of the nation, President Jonathan, who promised to do something about it, nothing has been done weeks after the promise. While the Muslims are waiting patiently for the president to do justice, CAN deems it a good ploy to cry wolf again where there is none just to blackmail everyone into silence and retain the status quo.

CAN is simply showing the world that the best form of defence is to attack but only fools are deceived when the pot calls the kettle black. It is left to the conscience of the leadership of the national conference and the honourable delegates to decide whether or not they will allow themselves to be railroaded into submission.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advises CAN to desist from causing distraction. A national conference is a more serious affair. CAN must cultivate the spirit of give and take. A winner-takes-all attitude must not be allowed to dominate affairs in a forum which is originally designed to engender harmony. It is a place for true patriots. CAN’s latest outcry is an attempt to divert attention from real issues.

A Daniel has come to justice. The pedigree of the duo of Justice Kutigi and Professor Bolaji Akinyemi is reassuring enough except for doubting Thomases and unrepentant cynics. The conference secretariat should go about its normal duty.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

STOP GENOCIDE AGAINST FULANIS

21^st April, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP GENOCIDE AGAINST FULANIS

Heavily armed men of the Nigerian Army allegedly drove in a convoy of ten Hilux vans on 2^nd April, 2014 to Kadarko and Rugar Ardo Sodangi settlements of Keana Local Government, Nasarawa State. They were alleged to have descended on a small group of mourners of Fulani descent. They shot all of them. Fifteen (15) people of Fulani extraction lay dead at the end of the operation. Three (3) were badly injured.

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), keen on the need to maintain peace and harmony in Nigeria, are deeply concerned particularly as this tragic scenario constitutes the emerging pattern in several parts of Northern Nigeria, particularly in Plateau, Benue and Adamawa.

Cattle-grazing is not new in this country and it had been very peaceful in the past. But recently there appears to be a kind of organized resistance and stereotyping of the Fulani herdsmen. This is what we find disturbing.

Witnesses have reportedly confirmed that efforts at reconciliation between Fulani herdsmen and their neighbours have always been frustrated by external forces who perpetrate fresh killings just when peace accords have either been signed or were about to be signed.

The testimony given by the Osana of Keana, Dr. Emmanuel Elayo also buttresses our suspicion. He expressed displeasure at the way his subjects were massacred. He confirmed that the leader of the troops told him that the operation was led by his superior and that he could not intervene. He added that all calls to head of security agencies in the state did not yield result.

MURIC finds all these disturbing. We wonder if we are not witnessing some kind of ethnic cleansing with the Fulani as the main target.

This will have grave consequences for the security question in Nigeria and the country’s corporate existence. It is also very likely to cause ricochets not only in the West African sub-region but also across other parts of the African continent particularly East Africa and the Sudan where the Fulani have roots dating back to centuries.

In essence, Nigeria may be promoting regional tension. This is capable of affecting our relationship with countries in the region. Backlashes against non-Fulani Nigerians doing businesses in those places may become inevitable.

The Nigerian Muslim community as a stakeholder in nation-building is also aware of the symbiotic relationship between the Fulani and the religion of Islam and, by extension, the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria. Any hostile act against the Fulani is therefore an indirect attack on Muslims. Genocide aimed at the Fulani is indubitably mass killing of Muslims. It is war against Islam.

MURIC will not stand akimbo while its members are being haunted from pillar to post. We therefore strongly condemn the callous, criminal and barbaric act of those men in army uniform who massacred innocent Fulanis.

We affirm that herdsmen have the right to graze their cattle. It is the duty of the state and Federal Governments to ensure that grazing grounds are provided where farmlands will not be in danger of being destroyed. This has been the practice for decades and we are surprised that it is now becoming an issue.

We call on the defence committees in the National Assembly to investigate the massacre of the innocent Fulani people of Keana Local Government. We remind the Federal Government that it is its duty to provide protection for all Nigerians including Fulani herdsmen throughout the federation. FG should therefore do the needful. Government has the capacity to stop cattle rustling.

We urge the National Human Rights Commission to investigate this atrocity and come up with its report. Finally, we remind Nigerians that a nation seeking peace cannot afford to target any ethnic group for profiling.

Muslims throughout the country are urged to continue to live in peace with their neighbours and to eschew all acts capable of causing public disorder. We should be guided by the tragedy in Rwanda.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

ABDUCTION OF 129 CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS: ARMY MUST APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK ABRACADABRA

19^th April, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

ABDUCTION OF 129 CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS: ARMY MUST APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK ABRACADABRA

The Nigerian Army claimed on Wednesday 16^th April, 2014 that it had rescued 107 out of the 129 girls abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

To the dismay of Nigerians, the school principal, Mrs. Asabe Kwambura, denied the report of such rescue operation. Officials of Borno State Government corroborated the denial. An embarrassed Nigerian military quickly retracted its story on Thursday, 17^th April, 2014.

It is only in Nigeria that such confusion is condoned. The abduction of girls in their school is a tremendous setback for girl-child education and it should have been treated with more seriousness and high manifestation of professionalism.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) calls attention to the misery and despair of parents of the unfortunate girls. Indeed all Nigerians have shown deep concern over this ugly incident. The huge national psychological trauma is immeasurable. Therefore nobody should trivialize the unprofessional behavior of the Nigerian military.

The army has goofed this time around and it should apologise to Nigerians. This is a democracy and the citizens have the right not only to demand performance but also to insist on true reportage.

It is clear from what happened that there was glaring disconnect between the field and army control room. This is a serious malady. The military is wobbling and fumbling. This is why innocent civilians continue to die everyday in this Boko Haram saga.

MURIC demands public apology from the military for feeding Nigerians with false hope, deepening their despair and causing them immense emotional trauma. We call for immediate commencement of a probe into the military Chibok abracadabra. We charge the defence committees of the National Assembly to perform their oversight function in this matter without any delay.

Who filed in the report from the field? Who received the signal? Who transmitted it and who gave the order for its dissemination to the public? Nigerians have the right to know.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)