FREE SOLDIERS CHARGED FOR REFUSING TO FIGHT INSURGENTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE WEAPONS

8^th December, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

FREE SOLDIERS CHARGED FOR REFUSING TO FIGHT INSURGENTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE WEAPONS

54 Nigerian soldiers were sentenced to death in December 2014 for refusing to fight Boko Haram insurgents unless they were given adequate equipment.

The soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Opurum, for an operation against extremist group, Boko Haram. The operation was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from the insurgents.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) deems it necessary for the Federal Government (FG) to pardon the soldiers who are currently on death row in view of fresh facts emerging from the celebrated cases of diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms for Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram.

It will be recalled that former National Security Adviser Col. Dasuki (rtd) and some Nigerian politicians are currently facing charges of fraudulent diversion of the sum of $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of weapons and equipment for the Nigerian military.

We remind FG that the 54 soldiers had been participating in the war against the insurgents until they discovered that Nigerian soldiers were not receiving weapons meant for prosecuting the war. They had fought gallantly for their country until they realized that highly placed traitors were robbing Nigeria blind by diverting funds meant for the purchase of arms. They saw that Nigerian soldiers were being made sacrificial lambs and forced to go on suicidal raids by politicians who were lining their pockets with blood money.

We call FG’s attention to the fact that all the accused soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges, and argued that they were prepared to fight but had insufficient equipment.

It is only an irresponsible parent who sends children to school without books and writing materials. Farmers do not go to their farms without hoes and cutlasses. It is therefore the superiors of the 54 soldiers who have questions to answer.

MURIC asserts that the 54 soldiers engaged in an extremely patriotic act by protesting and refusing to fight without adequate weapons in order to expose the dirty deals in the battle against insurgents.

In fact, had the 54 soldiers not embarked on the protest, Nigerians would have remained oblivious of the true picture, the massive killing of Nigerian troops by the insurgents would have continued unabated and the whole North East, nay, the entire Northern Nigeria would have been run over by Boko Haram in a matter of months.

Instead of killing the 54 soldiers on death row, therefore, they should be garlanded as heroes and decorated with medals. We consider these men as whistleblowers. They are gallant soldiers and patriots sadly mistaken for cowards.

Is it not true that Nigerian soldiers were forced to flee as Boko Haram insurgents advanced in the days of former President Jonathan? Is it not true that the picture changed after President Muhammadu Buhari took over? What swung the pendulum? Is it not because adequate equipment was bought and supplied by the new regime?

The order to march forward and fight Boko Haram with bare hands was improper command and the 54 soldiers refused to obey in national interest. We call on FG to let the condemned soldiers live. They are the gem in the collection. Killing them will be a miscarriage of justice. We therefore appeal to FG not only to pardon them but to reinstate them in the armed forces.

The real traitors are those politicians who diverted funds meant for the procurement of arms. They should be rounded up, tried and severely punished. That money is blood money. Its diversion made it possible for hundreds of Nigerian soldiers to fall on the battle field. It caused the killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians in the North East. The looters facilitated the bombing of churches, mosques and motor parks. The hands of these corrupt politicians are soaked in blood and they must pay for it.

In conclusion, we call on the Federal Government to pardon the condemned soldiers and vigorously prosecute those behind the diversion of arms funds. We appeal to the National Assembly to wade into the matter. We also urge civil society not to forget these gallant but unlucky soldiers on death row.    

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

ALLEGATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AGAINST BUHARI BASELESS, SPONSORED.

3^rd December, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLEGATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AGAINST BUHARI BASELESS, SPONSORED

President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption has faced numerous attacks in recent times. The opposition party (People’s Democratic Party, PDP) has accused him of persecuting key members of the opposition while a ‘human rights’ group appealed to the international community to check Buhari’s ‘human rights abuses’.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rejects these allegations. They are baseless, unfounded and outrageous. They exist only in the figment of the sponsors’ imagination. We strongly condemn attempts by corrupt politicians and stomach infrastructure ‘human rights’ groups to frustrate the war against corruption.

We remind Nigerians that Buhari won the presidential election because he was a candidate of uncompromised integrity. He was given a mandate to clean up the mess created by 16 years of PDP’s misrule, reckless extravagance, corruption nulli secundus and impunity primus inter pareil whose crumbling edifice was capped by the cluelessness of the last regime.

Nigeria was in such a bad shape that Transparency International ranked her the most corrupt country in year 2000, second most corrupt country in 2003 and third most corrupt in 2004. Just yesterday (2^nd December, 2015) Nigeria came second behind South Africa in corruption ranking.

The indices are not so favourable at present to allow us to indulge corrupt politicians or nurse any sympathy for them. In spite of our massive oil wealth, 100 million Nigerians live below poverty line. The average Nigerian lives on less than $1 per day. Per capita income is less than $300. Nigeria was adjudged the 26^th poorest country in 2002 and the 20^th hungriest in the world in 2009.

Yet the bane of Nigeria’s development is corruption. It is the raison d’etre for our epilectic power supply, the death traps which we call roads, the public mortuaries which we call hospitals and the roadside carpenters’ workshops which we call laboratories in our universities!  

The only way to get our infrastructure working is to eliminate corruption or to reduce it to its barest minimum. But to our greatest shock and disappointment, a so-called human rights group recently started shedding crocodile tears and defending the indefensible when the time came to seize corruption by the jugular.  

Is it not a crime against the innocent citizens of Nigeria for any public officer to divert money intended for buying arms for our gallant soldiers who are fighting Boko Haram to somewhere else? Is it not criminal to deny our soldiers the much needed arms and ammunition thereby causing the death of many of them and allowing insurgents to kill and maim innocent Nigerians? Was it fair to have allowed Nigerians to label their own soldiers cowards on account of their fleeing from insurgents?

Was it not because they were not properly equipped that they were constrained to tactically withdraw? Was it not on account of this ‘tactical withdrawal’ that some of our soldiers were tried and sentenced to death? Should we then allow those behind the diversion of military funds to go scot free? Why then is a ‘human rights’ group accusing Buhari of human rights violations just because the President wants to ensure that those responsible for the massive fraud are accountable?

Can we now see the new vigour in the military after the new Buhari regime ensured that the suitable equipment was supplied? Only one local government remains in the hands of insurgents as at today. The pendulum has also swung. Boko Haram is on the run and our gallant soldiers are in pursuit. 

The Boko Haram phenomenon would have become history long before now if our soldiers had been properly armed and it was those who diverted defence funds to private pockets who made it impossible to properly equip our soldiers.

In other words, corrupt politicians weakened our soldiers to the advantage of Boko Haram and allowed the latter to perpetrate all those atrocities. What do we expect Buhari to do with such corrupt individuals? Garland them with roses? Give them national honours? No, criminals must be treated as criminals.

We can understand if PDP treats them as heroes. The party is simply staying in character. But it is shameful and despicable for any member of civil society to extenuate the offence of those traitors. More worrisome is the attempt to rewrite history by accusing Buhari of human rights abuse over attempts to get thieves to render account. No genuine human rights group will behave like an accomplice of kleptomaniacs. Corruption is fighting back and it is a pity that some members of civil society have become willing tools in the hands of this hydra-headed monster.

We appeal to members of the judiciary, lawyers, the press and Nigerians in general to be wary of the antics of corrupt politicians. Nigerians must be united in this struggle for the war against corruption to succeed. For instance, Nigerian judges must be ponder why those facing corruption charges always suddenly remember that they need to travel abroad for medical attention? Why must those convicted for corruption spend their jail terms in hospitals for ‘illnesses’ concocted after the commencement of trials?

Granting permission for such trips amount to frustration of the war against corruption. The bench must be firm. Corrupt politicians seek to travel abroad in order to temporarily escape justice, dig in deep, hide their loot properly and plot their big comeback to continue their reign of financial terrorism.

Nigerians need the full support of the National Assembly at this crucial period. Corrupt politicians are smart Alecs and our lawmakers must seek to outsmart them. We need a bill that will make it virtually impossible for anyone facing criminal charges, no matter how highly placed, to travel outside the country under whatever guise.       

We urge the international community to ignore the rantings of agents of corrupt politicians. Western countries are advised to check the credibility of those accusing President Buhari of human rights abuse through their embassies in the country. Parasites and mushrooms must not be mistaken for plants which bear good fruits.

We have a president who has an unbeatable pedigree. We have full confidence in him and we call on the international community to give him every necessary support in the war against corruption and the fight against terrorism. We affirm that corrupt politicians are also financial terrorists.  In fact, they are the root cause of the terrorism in form of Boko Haram.

We charge Nigerian judges, lawyers and the National Assembly to plug all holes in the war against corruption. We call on civil society to look beyond the smokescreen and the sentiment so that they can appreciate the dilemma facing the country. We will not have good roads, qualitative education, stable power supply, etc until corruption is nipped in the bud.

In conclusion, we warn that corrupt politicians are out to wreck the boat. All hands must therefore be on deck. It is not about violation of human rights or persecution of members of the opposition. It is about salvaging Nigeria. We should not allow anybody to hide under the canopy of human rights abuse after stealing our common wealth. It is about Nigeria and Nigeria is the dot in the com.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

MURIC WELCOMES RESOLUTION OF NYSC HIJAB SAGA

27^th November, 2015,

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC WELCOMES RESOLUTION OF NYSC HIJAB SAGA

The Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) yesterday cleared the air on the raging controversy surrounding the purported ban of the hijab in camps of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) across the country. MCAN in two separate statements issued in Abuja revealed that members of its executive held a meeting with the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, where the issue was amicably settled

In the first statement titled ‘Ban of Hijab Within NYSC Scheme: A False News’ MCAN reported that the DG apologized to the female corp member who was harassed by the Benue State camp commandant who has since been banned from the camp. The DG also promised to set up a committee to find a lasting solution to the hijab affair. The committee, according to the report, will coopt a member of the MCAN executive.

In the second statement issued by MCAN titled ‘NYSC DG Discredits The Ban Of Hijab’, the group confirmed that only the long hijab which reaches the ankles was banned while any hijab which covers the bosom or reaches the knee is permitted.  

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) welcomes the above development. Contrary to earlier perception, we note with pleasure the DG’s amenable disposition to the hijab question and his transparently liberal mien to religious issues.

We remind the NYSC authorities of the strategic importance of the institution to virtually every Nigerian parent. We therefore urge the body to inject doses of dynamism into its public relations so as to plug any lacuna in communication. Early reaction to issues of public interest will go a long way in preventing misunderstanding.  

Finally, we commend the maturity displayed by MCAN officials on the hijab controversy. We charge all Muslim corpers to discharge their duties with patriotic zeal. We also appeal to the press to avoid sensationalism in their reportage. We commend the DG of the NYSC for his liberality and for adopting an open-door policy in his handling of the hijab imbroglio.   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714

NYSC DG BAN ON HIJAB: AN INVITATION TO CHAOS

25^th November, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

NYSC DG BAN ON HIJAB:

AN INVITATION TO CHAOS

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi yesterday in Abuja made a categorical statement banning the use of hijab by youth corpers.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rejects the purported ban. It is reckless, baseless and preposterous. No public officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should speak in such manner. The pronouncement smacks of power drunkenness. It is a hate statement. The Director General needs to purge himself of Islamophobia.

On what ground is he banning the use of hijab? Security reason is not enough because we have examples of armed robbers using police uniforms to rob. Has anyone thought of banning police uniform? About forty armed robbers dressed in army uniform attacked six banks in Agbara, Ogun State last week. They killed a policeman and a pregnant woman. Should we ban army uniform because of that?

Brigadier General Johnson and his ilk are hiding under the security challenge facing Nigeria to implement a hidden agenda, namely, to stigmatise Muslims and to embarrass our daughters and wives who wear hijab.

Is General Johnson aware that female Muslims in the British police use hijab on top of their uniform? Can he tell us how the hijab disturbs a corper’s uniform? Does the DG know that hijab is an integral, nay, the most vital part of a female Muslim’s dress? Does he know that female Muslim corpers feel as if they are naked when disallowed from using the hijab? Is he aware of the psychological trauma such female Muslim corpers go through?

How can we spend a lifetime training our daughters to dress decently and you dehumanize them in your camp within 24 hours? How dare you?

We affirm that we will use every constitutional means to stop this religious apartheid against Muslims in the name of discipline and regimentation. Why must Muslims face persecution everywhere in Nigeria? Why cant the Nigerian system accommodate and integrate the Islamic culture? Why cant Nigerian officials allow Islamic landmarks to stand pari passu with British colonial and Christian culture? Is Nigeria truly independent or is it a banana republic created to serve only the interest of the British imperial master? Must Muslims be forced to accept British Christian mode of dressing?

We must ask who designed Nigeria’s school uniform? Who designed the army and police uniforms? Was it not the British? What is the religion of the British? Is every Nigerian in the same faith? So why cant we allow the Muslims to retain their identity? Why cant the Muslims enjoy religious freedom in this country?

Why must Muslims be forced to dress like Christians? Why must Muslims be denied the dividends of democracy? Any policy that fails to carry us along is exclusive. Nigeria is for all of us. We reject an NYSC that promulgates anti-Muslim decrees.

We remind the DG that he cannot turn Muslims in NYSC camps into slaves. This is not military rule. NYSC officials, including the DG will be acting ultra vires if they take actions which violate the laws of the land. Section 38 (i) & (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees religious freedom. We seek the enforcement of this right.

Yet the hypocrisy of the system has been exposed. Can the NYSC Director General explain why the NYSC allows female Muslim corpers in places like Kano and Sokoto to use the hijab while their counterparts in the South are harassed and intimidated?

Why this double standard? Is the ban only meant for the South? Or is it further proof of the mythological ‘Northern-Muslim and Southern-Christian dichotomy’? It had better not be.       

We hope it will not get to a point when Nigerian Muslims will decide to opt out of the NYSC service year. Yes, we may have no other option than to ask our daughters to ignore an institution which targets them for ridicule, torment and persecution.

MURIC charges the NYSC to revisit its rules. Any aspect of those rules which fails to respect the faith of Christians, Muslims or traditionalists should be expunged. Such rules are draconian and counter-productive. They only serve the interest of neo-imperialists.

We appeal to the National Assembly to save Nigerian Muslims from annual embarrassment in NYSC camps. Our daughters are being derobed in public courtesy of a system that is blind to sociological realities, a system that has allowed itself to be enslaved by the culture of the colonial master.   

We call on the Director General of the NYSC to desist from precipitating a religious crisis of monumental proportion over the hijab saga. Nigeria has enough on its hands already. The DG should stop stirring the hornet’s nest. We insist that Nigerian Muslims cannot be intimidated. Nobody should test our will.

Nigerian Muslims have the capacity to mobilize for peaceful protests in all NYSC camps across the country if the molestation of our daughters continue. Enough is enough. We did not bargain for an NYSC that has been hijacked by religious bigots and Muslim-haters!

MURIC has a duty in loco parentis to cry out against the persecution of female Muslim corpers. They are our daughters and also our members. We charge all Islamic organizations in the country to rise to the occasion.

We cry out to our Mothers-in-Islam in the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Criterion and all other female Muslim organizations. It is taboo for a woman to ignore her child’s cry! Muslim women arise, the slave masters are dragging our daughters in the mud.

We advise female Muslim corpers to continue to use their hijab. It is their Allah-given fundamental human right. We are keeping a tab on those unscrupulous elements who will snatch the hijab from the heads of our daughters or those power drunk officials who will expel them from NYSC camps. Perhaps the time has come to revisit the whole gamut of this NYSC affair.   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)