ID CONTROVERSY: SULTAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT STANDS

30^th July, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

ID CONTROVERSY: SULTAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT STANDS

An online media outfit published a story yesterday Tuesday 29^th July, 2014 in which it claimed that the Sultan’s Palace admitted that the moon was not sighted before the Sultan made the announcement. The publication claimed that the Sultan admitted that he made a mistake and that the Moon-Sighting Committee was right.

After painstaking investigation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) can confirm that the story is false, baseless and without any iota of truth. We spoke with the Sultan to ascertain the truth. His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) reaffirmed his earlier announcement and denied granting such an interview.

MURIC can also reveal that the normal procedure was followed in arriving at the decision to make the announcement. On the 29th of every month of Sha’ban (i.e. the month preceding Ramadan), the Sultanate issues a circular and press statement to all Emirs, Muslim chiefs and Obas in Nigeria, the 85 District Heads in Sokoto as well as leaders of  prominent Islamic organizations in Nigeria and the media that Muslims should look for the new Moon.

Many states have their own Moon-Sighting committees and the report of sighting or otherwise in any state is scrutinized before sending it to the Sultanate where a committee of scholars and council members will further screen the report according to the Islamic Shari'a. If found to be credible, the report will be presented to the Sultan who will further cross-check before making the announcement.

The above procedure was also followed this year. We assert that the Sultan took a wise step by making the announcement after seeing the credible testimonies of many Moon-Sighting committees including those of Emirs from several states. The findings of the Moon-Sighting Committee of the NSCIA could have been complementary to those of the state committees without leading to any controversy or public denials.

MURIC also discovered that the Sultan’s announcement was religiously obeyed by approximately 99% of Muslims in the North, 98% of Muslims in the South East and 48% of Muslims in the South West. This shows that the unity of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah remains solid while Sultan Abubakar III still enjoys his usual robust popularity.

We appeal to leaders of Islamic organizations, Muslim dignitaries and all stakeholders in the Muslim Ummah to jealously guard our hard-won unity and to stand firmly behind our committed, energetic and dynamic Sultan. We must not allow division within the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. We urge Muslims to shun violence at all times, to remain calm and law-abiding and to work towards a strong and united Nigeria.

Finally, we reaffirm that the Sultanate did not issue any statement admitting that the moon was not sighted before the announcement was made. We task all stakeholders in the Ummah to join hands with the Sultan in building a virile, progressive and united Muslim community. We charge Muslim leaders to put this incident behind them because there are greater challenges facing the Ummah and the country at large. We must not dissipate energy on the peripheral leaving the tangential to wallow.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CONDOLES MALLAM NASIR EL-RUFAI & FAMILY

30^th July, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDOLES THE EL-RUFAI FAMILY

With heavy hearts but with submission to the will of Almighty Allah, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commiserates with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the loss of his son, Hamzah, in a fatal accident in Abuja yesterday, Tuesday 29th July, 2014.

We share these moments of grief with the El-Rufai family and we reaffirm that every soul shall taste of death (Qur'an 3:185). 

May Allah put a stop to tragedies in the family of our dear brother Nasir El-Rufai. May the Supreme Creator also strengthen the family to bear the loss. We also pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased brother, Hamzah El-Rufai in Al-Jannah Firdaus.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)..

MASSACRE OF SHIITE PROTESTERS: FG MUST PUNISH PERPETRATORS

29^th July, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

MASSACRE OF SHIITE PROTESTERS: FG MUST PUNISH PERPETRATORS

About thirty five (35) Shiites peacefully protesting against Israelli belligerence were shot dead in Zaria, Kaduna State on Friday 25^th July, 2014. Three sons of Shiite leader, Shaykh Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky (Mahmud, Ahmad and Hamid who were all studying outside Nigeria) were among the victims.    

Soldiering is a noble profession reserved for heroes and chivalrous citizens. The Nigerian Army is blessed with disciplined officers and men of high integrity but the soldiers involved in this massacre are bad examples who are out to smear the image of our military.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is shocked by the manifestation of barbarism and excessive use of force by the black sheep among the Nigerian military in this deadly operation. We strongly condemn this unprovoked aggression. It is callous, cowardly and inhuman. It is appalling. It is crime against humanity to mow down unarmed civilians.

Shiite procession in Zaria is an annual routine known to all and sundry and they have not been known to turn violent. It appears to us that the Nigerian military is seeking to gain by the bends what they fail to gain at the straights. The military is still interested in power but having realized that military dictatorship has become unpopular all over the world, it seeks to retain power via crude relevance by deliberately creating perpetual turmoil.

We posit that the attack on the Shiites is an indirect invitation to the evolution of another guerilla group. Today was born from the wombs of yesterday. We only need to look back and trace the history of Boko Haram. It was the extra-judicial killing of Boko Haram leader 24 hours after he was arrested and shown alive on television which started what has now become a national gangrene, a regional cancerous tumor and a universal cankerworm.

MURIC is therefore constrained to ask the military to stop plotting the gradual destabilization of Nigeria. The Federal Government (FG) must confront this challenge now and find a lasting solution to it. FG must desist from pampering the military. Instead, the military must be retrained and re-engineered to evolve a culture of respect for civilian authority. FG must be firm this time around and the first step in this direction is to stop involving the military in civil matters like elections and confronting peaceful protesters.

We are aware that FG has promised investigation into the killings. MURIC warns against failed promises. We demand thorough investigation. The panel of inquiry must include civilians and retired judges. Nigerians have no confidence in soldiers investigating themselves in issues involving soldiers and civilians. Soldiers who fail to imbibe the culture of submission to civil norms in a democratic dispensation are potent threats to the survival of our nascent democracy. Those found culpable must be dismissed and tried in civil courts for mass murder.

MURIC will take the case to the international arena if the authorities fail to uncover and punish the perpetrators. Somebody gave the order to open fire. Who was it? Who led the troops from the barracks? The records must be there. This must not be handled in-house by the military. These reckless elements within the military have committed a crime capable of instigating the formation of another ‘terrorist’ group.

Nigerian authorities cannot be unaware of the cause-effect theory of terrorism. This theory posits that what we call ‘terrorism’ is mere smoke. If it is true that there is no smoke without fire, we must look beyond the terrorists if we really want to stop terrorism. Those who started the fire which produced the smoke of terrorism must be checked. In short, if we really want to defeat Boko Haram, we must punish those who engage in extra-judicial killing. They are the military ‘extremists’ and extremists have the propensity either to fuel terrorism or to become terrorists themselves..

Finally, MURIC demands adequate compensation for the injured and families of the dead victims of this military misadventure and unreserve apology from the topmost echelon of the Nigerian military. Our demands can therefore be summarized: one, full investigation and due punishment for the perpetrators, two, adequate compensation for the victims and three, unreserved apology.

These three steps are necessary in order to deprive Boko Haram of potential sympathizers and to forestall the emergence of another guerrilla group.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

END OF RAMADAN CONTROVERSY: MURIC STANDS BY THE SULTAN

27^th July, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

END OF RAMADAN CONTROVERSY:

MURIC STANDS BY THE SULTAN

Nigerian Muslims ended their fasting today as they mark the Id ul-Fitr festival. But some sections of the media have also reported that there are differences among Nigerian Muslims on the issue of ending Ramadan today or tomorrow.     

The Muslim Rights Concern congratulates the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar III, the Muslim Ummah both in Nigeria and all over the world as well as the good people of Nigeria for witnessing the end of the Ramadan.

We affirm that there is no need for any controversy at all because the moon was sighted in eleven states and the sighting was reported to His Eminence the Sultan. We believe that he acted rightly by going ahead to make the announcement.

Nigerian Muslims have no reason to doubt the sincerity of His Eminence. This is a man who has demonstrated great leadership qualities. He has always been consulting Muslim leaders all over the country. Unlike before he came on board, the Sultan has held regular meetings with Muslim leaders. He is definitely not an armchair President-General of the NSCIA because he has been all over Nigeria, travelling almost every week to attend Islamic occasions as far away as Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Ijebu, Ile-Ife, Auchi, Benin, Kogi, Minna, Maiduguri, etc.

He has demonstrated good intention at all times. He has also been demonized by detractors and enemies of Nigeria because they saw dynamism in him. For these reasons alone we believe that Sultan Abubakar III deserves to be heard and obeyed.

We must also not forget that the Committee on Moon-sighting was created by the Sultan and whoever sits as chairman of that committee is acting on the Sultan’s behalf. While we have great respect for members of the committee who differed in their opinion, we hold that the technical expertise of the members of the committee pales in significance in the face of the need for the overall unity of the Muslim Ummah.

In our humble opinion, what is responsible for the seeming disparity is the fact that the whole Ramadan exercise itself started on a controversial note. Some started on Saturday 28^th June, 2014 while others started on Sunday 29^th June. This was acknowledged in the NSCIA press statement two days ago. Therefore there was no premeditated desire to disobey or disagree with the Sultan.

The NSCIA Secretary General, Professor Ishaq Oloyede has done a marvelous job in reforming the NSCIA secretariat and he has very cordial relations with the Sultan.  In like manner, all members of the Moon-sighting Committee have great respect for the person of the Sultan.

We therefore have no modicum of doubt that this is a minor issue. We assure Nigerians that it is a mere family affair which will not generate any bad blood. Muslims are one brotherhood and we will get over this sooner than anyone can imagine. The committee was created by the Sultan and it will meet the Sultan to resolve grey areas particularly for the purpose of ensuring that it will not be repeated in future.

MURIC however affirms that a larger portion of the Nigerian Muslim population from all over Nigeria is observing the Id today. This shows the great popularity and acceptability of the Sultan among Nigerian Muslims. For the avoidance of doubt, we confirm that the whole North, the whole South-East and some parts of the South-West have followed the Sultan and consequently they have all observed the Id prayer and are celebrating the Id today.

Finally, MURIC registers a resounding vote of confidence in the leadership of His Eminence, Sultan Abubakar III.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

WAY OUT OF THE ID LOGJAM

Salaam All,

My view is that as our leader His Eminence the Sultan has announced that the moon has been sighted, we should hear and obey because he made the announcement based on reliable reports. Those who started their fast on Saturday 28^th June already have fasted 29.

As for those whose fasts are still 28 because they started on Sunday 29^th June, I advise that they also go to Id today in obedience to the leadership and make up the remaining one fast on the next day. It is not advisable to fast on Id day.

TODAY IS ID: THE MOON HAS BEEN SIGHTED

Alhamdulilah the moon was sighted in Sokoto, Kebbi and about nine other northern states. It was announced by His Eminence, Sultan Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar III. Id Mubarak to all our members.

SALAH MESSAGE: SET NIGERIANS FREE

26^th July, 2014

SALAH MESSAGE:

SET NIGERIANS FREE

The month of Ramadan is grinding slowly to an end and Muslims all over the world are warming up for Id ul-Fitr which is the festival marking the end of Ramadan.      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) reminds Nigerians of the lessons inherent in the fasting exercise. Apart from its health-related gains, Ramadan instills piety, reduces the propensity for profligacy, compels empathy, pegs immorality and engenders high-level discipline. These gains will be lost unless Nigerians allow these lessons to reflect in their lives ad infinitum.

According to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the beginning of Ramadan opens the door of blessings, its middle facilitates spirit of forgiveness while its end symptomises emancipation.

MURIC therefore calls on Nigerians to show mercy to their fellowmen, to forgive those who have offended them and to liberate all those in bondage.

With respect to the commencement of Ramadan which epitomizes the manifestation of mercy to one another, we appeal to state and local governments as well as wealthy Nigerians to set up ‘stomach welfare centers’ where hungry Nigerians can eat at least once daily.

The Federal Government should also establish a new ministry to be called ‘Welfare Ministry’ to serve this same purpose.

On the middle of Ramadan which signifies forgiveness, we call on Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists in Nigeria to evolve joint orientation programmes where emphasis will be placed on the lessons of love, tolerance and forgiveness. Fate has joined us all together in this country and the best we can do is to think first of saving our country from disintegration and total destruction.

As the end of Ramadan teaches liberation, we charge Nigerian authorities to immediately review all anti-people policies wherever and in whatever form they are being imposed. Let Nigerians go! Too many people are suffering. Too little people are enjoying. The masses only hear of trillions and billions of naira. Yet there is no bread on their tables.

Examples abound of such draconian policies: the new vehicle licence plate number should be given free to those who already have old ones. Vehicle owners did not obtain the old plate numbers gratis. Now they are being made to pay twice for the same product because plate numbers do not expire.  It is out-Heroding Herod to compel vehicle owners to pay for the new one.

Motorcycles confiscated from okada riders should be returned to them after three weeks. The seizure should be temporary, not permanent. The policy which allows permanent seizure lacks human face. It is spreading hunger and recruiting desperate foot-soldiers for robbery kingpins.

On the demolition of structures, adequate compensation should precede demolition and not vice versa. Aesthetic beauty is good for our environment but not at the expense of depriving people of their means of sustenance and places of abode.

Still on liberation as an integral part of the lessons at the end of Ramadan, MURIC charges governors to visit prisons at the end of this Ramadan to free prisoners awaiting trial, those whose offences are not so serious, elderly ones, nursing mothers and pregnant women among the inmates.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should seize the opportunity of the Ramadan freedom package to take a decisive action capable of securing the freedom of the Chibok girls who are now in their 104^th day in Boko Haram hideout. To Boko Haram leadership, MURIC says, “Let our girls go!”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)