LAGOS HIJAB IMBROGLIO: WE MUST SEPARATE OFFICE FROM RELIGION

9^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

LAGOS HIJAB IMBROGLIO:

WE MUST SEPARATE OFFICE FROM RELIGION

Sequel to the response given by the Lagos State Deputy Governor to a question on hijab in which she gave the official government position, some concerned Muslims raised eye brows immediately. Although we made an attempt to douse tension by issuing a press statement immediately the issue broke in the public domain, we are still constrained to update our press release on this burning issue.          

We fully understand and respect the feelings of fellow Muslims who expressed concern. Most people expressed genuine fear without an iota of malice. We appreciate them. But the facts must be put on the table and critically analysed in order to avoid hurting the innocent and labeling a committed Mother-of-Islam unjustly.   

She was confronted with a delicate question during a television interview. The question had to do with Islam, her own personal faith and hijab to be precise. Incidentally the state government already has an official position on the issue and she happens to be the sitting deputy governor. Ceteris paribus, she is expected to give the official position of the state government. Anything to the contrary would have been tantamount to desecration of the office she holds, a betrayal of her sacred oath of office and an attempt to undermine the state government.

Muslims in Lagos State and all over the country must consider the fact that the question was put to her as the Deputy Governor, not as a Muslim. The fact that she gave the official position of the state government does not mean that she has jettisoned her faith or abandoned her fellow Muslims. She does not need to betray her personal emotions in official matters.

It was a difficult moment. Whereas a judge can afford to step down in a case in which he has personal interest, like when his junior brother is arraigned before him, a politician cannot resign because he is a stakeholder in an issue in which the press seeks to know the government’s official position. Parrying the question could have been worse as it is likely to imply that she had something to hide.

We must separate government officials from their religion in order to get the best out of them. Dr. Mrs. Idiat Adebule is well respected in academic and political circles. But she is not the ‘Deputy Governor of Lagos Muslims’. She is the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, of the good and progressive people of Lagos State, of the indigenes and non-indigenes and of the Christians, the Muslims and the Traditionalists.

She is therefore expected to speak for all and attend to all regardless of tribe or faith. She should not be guillotined for giving the official position of the state government. She would have been deemed to have failed in her duty if she had done otherwise.

In view of the foregoing, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby reposes full confidence in the Lagos State Deputy Governor. We are proud of her as a practicing Muslim, a non-extremist and a public servant of high integrity. We appeal to the Deputy Governor to treat the events of the last few days with equanimity. It is part of the challenges and sacrifices of leadership. We plead with her to bear the comments with fortitude and to continue to serve the state with her well known passion, accommodation and humility.  

We invite Muslims in Lagos State and indeed in the whole country to join us in working for peace and progress in Lagos State. We appeal to Muslims who expressed the fear ab initio that the Deputy Governor had abandoned her fellow Muslims to ponder over the above analysis for a better assessment of the situation. We are all working towards the emancipation of the oppressed Muslims of Nigeria. We assure you that there will be no retreat, no surrender until our goals of equal rights and justice are attained.   

We remain oppressed until the right of the Muslim girl to use hijab is fully recognized everywhere in Nigeria. Hijab is the symbol of our right to self-determination and we will employ every legitimate means to ensure it becomes fait accompli.  

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

AVOID TANTRUMS ON LAGOS HIJAB SAGA

7^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

AVOID TANTRUMS ON LAGOS HIJAB SAGA

A group of Muslims today called on the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Idiat Adebule, to withdraw certain comments made by her while on a television programme regarding the hijab imbroglio in Lagos State.     

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) calls for caution in dealing with the hijab saga in Lagos State since the matter is already before the Supreme Court. Muslims are advised not to be in a hurry to condemn the Deputy Governor but to sit down and critically reflect on her statement.

 

Lagos Muslims have been extremely patient and law abiding from the beginning. Unlike the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who disregarded the decision of the High Court of the State of Osun and instigated Christian students to misbehave, Lagos Muslims respected the ruling of the Lagos High Court which upheld the ban on hijab. Instead of creating ugly scenes, Lagos Muslims went to the appelate court.

This mature behavior has earned tons of respect for the Muslims of Lagos and attracted a Tsunami of accolades. We must maintain this decorum. We cannot afford to be unruly. The Glorious Qur’an affirms that Muslims are the best among mankind. (Qur’an 3:110). The clock is ticking fast and there is no need to be in a rush. Neither should we issue statements capable of generating tension in the state. Lagos has enjoyed peace for a long time and there is every reason to sustain the status quo. 

MURIC calls attention to earlier statements made by officials of the Lagos State government in which they cautioned school authorities and warned against extreme behaviours. That is responsible governance and we doff our cap to the state government for doing this. Even the statement attributed to the Deputy Governor does not call for tantrums. She merely spoke the obvious.

Neither Governor Akinwunmi Ambode nor his deputy has been hostile towards Muslims since they came into power. Muslims in the state also have no reason to doubt either the Deputy governor’s goodwill or her commitment to her faith. She has worshipped sincerely with Lagos Muslims for years before becoming Deputy Governor and she has continued to do so while in government.

Experienced public analysts know that statements made during press interviews need to be critically assessed and not taken at their face value. There is also an urgent need to understand the raison d’etre for taking the case to the Supreme Court. Governments often have bigger pictures since they deal with all stakeholders. The Supreme Court option may be the voice of Jacob, but if it is true that the Appeal Court gave sweet victory to Lagos Muslims in particular, the Lagos State Government may have given Nigerian Muslims in general a glorious national triumph by going to the Supreme Court. Time will tell.

We therefore appeal to Muslims in Lagos State to allow the law to take its due course. We must not allow the hand of Esau to push us to extreme behaviours. Let us eschew threats. Let us douse tension on the hijab issue. The case is in the highest court in the land and if we have been patient since all these years, nothing stops us from exercising patience to the very end. Like revenge, victory is sweeter when it is cold.

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

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE: NIGERIANS MUST CELEBRATE CHANGE

1^st October, 2016

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE:

NIGERIANS MUST CELEBRATE CHANGE

The Federal Government has declared Monday 3^rd October as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 56^th independence anniversary which occurs today, 1^st October, 2016.      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) congratulates Nigerians at home and abroad for witnessing this great day. Nigerians have cause to rejoice because we have all seen palpable signs of change despite the current economic recession.

Critics and public analysts have always criticized past regimes for the systemic corruption. They wondered why no high ranking official was ever held accountable. They also made us to believe that corrupt practices will come to an end once government takes the bold step to confront and punish offenders. This has been the story since our independence in 1960.

MURIC believes that Nigerians can now heave sighs of relief as accountability takes the central stage in the Buhari administration which took off on May 29, 2015. More than eleven highly placed politicians and army generals have been arrested and remanded in prison for corrupt practices.

The unprecedented list includes a former Acting governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), former spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, Air Marshal Olusola Amosu (rtd), an ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, ex-Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secundus, Chairman of African Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi, former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawal Isa Jafaru and Air Vice Marshal Olusola Oguntoyinbo.  

Very recently, a serving governor and a former First Lady had their bank accounts frozen over fraudulent transactions. The Aso Rock official responsible for plagiarizing Obama’s speech was sacked few days ago. Ministers have been barred from flying first class at government’s expense. The same Buhari administration has denied ministers luxurious accommodation in Abuja. Leakages are being blocked. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the bank BVN number have exposed thousands of ghost workers and forced many looters to abandon their money in commercial banks for fear of being traced and punished.

More importantly, looted money is being recovered. About one billion naira has reportedly been returned. It is our contention that returned stolen money would have been more had the National Assembly (NASS) actively supported the anti-graft measures put in place by the Buhari administration. But instead of being a partner in progress, the NASS has constituted a clog in the wheel while its leadership has been embroiled in corruption scandals and the attendant trials.

It is equally noteworthy that Nigeria has witnessed change in leadership orientation. Observers and critics have for long maintained that the problem with Nigeria is leadership and that the country will get it right once the leader gets it right. Unlike in the past, Nigeria today has a leader who is above board, someone who is tested and trusted.

  

Another feature of the change mantra has manifested in the recognition and respect which the international community has for the current Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari. He has won accolades from notable world leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury and President Barrack Obama of the United States. This is change at the international arena.

MURIC calls on Nigerians to allow the change aura to spread. Every Nigerian must embrace the change phenomenon. In particular, the people’s representatives in the NASS should rise from their deep slumber to give full support to the war against corruption. NASS must put the necessary machinery in motion to ensure speedy trial of corrupt persons.

We support recommendations made by concerned individuals and groups for the punishment of corrupt politicians and public officials with some modifications as reflected below:

1.  They must fully forfeit stolen funds.

2.  Those imprisoned can only be treated inside prison walls if they fall sick.

3.  They must lose national honors and all chieftaincy titles.

4.  They must lose national honors and all chieftaincy titles.

5.  Complicit lawyers should attract equal prison sentence and disbarment.

6.  Judges who aid and abet them should be sentenced to life imprisonment without any option of fine.

In conclusion, MURIC calls on doubting Thomases to remove the blindfold of prejudice from their eyes in order to behold the wonderful change sweeping the Nigerian landscape. We remind Nigerians that the onus today is on the citizens to take the cue from the current transparent leadership. We have blamed Nigeria’s woes on bad leadership for a long time and we have never been truly independent as we wobbled and fumbled in the shackle of corruption.

What is expected of us as a serious people now that we have a good leader? The citizens too must change. We must turn a new leaf to liberate ourselves from socio-economic predators and corrupt politicians who subject us to acute penury by looting our common wealth.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PRO-PATIENCE JONATHAN PROTEST WAS A RENTED CROWD

24^th September, 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

PRO-PATIENCE JONATHAN PROTEST WAS A RENTED CROWD

Hundreds of youths reportedly staged a protest in Port Harcourt yesterday in support of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of ex-President Jonathan. Mrs. Jonathan recently had her bank account frozen for laundering huge sums of money. In particular, the sums of $26 million and $15 million were reportedly deposited in bank accounts which were allegedly opened by the former First Lady using the names of her domestic staffers.         

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly denounces the Port Harcourt protest. It is diversionary, unethical and unpatriotic. Those who organized it can better be described as opportunists, political prostitutes and myopic elements. The protest is heavily tainted with ethnic jingoism.

It is preposterous that some youths could stand up to stage protests in support of anyone accused of looting the treasury without critically assessing the facts of the case at a time when shocking revelations prove that looters pushed Nigeria’s economy into stormy waters. This ugly incident dents the image of Nigerian youths and casts a thick shadow of doubt on the moral fiber of Nigeria’s future leaders.  

It is instructive that the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has disowned the group as impersonators. This strengthens our suspicion that a rented crowd staged the protest. It is further proof that corruption is fighting back and dirty too.

MURIC salutes the CLO for its courage in publicly dissociating itself from the shameful hocus pocus. We call on Nigerians to stop manifesting ethnic or religious bias in the war against corruption. A thief is a thief no matter his or her tribe or faith. Nigerians also need to realize that the impact of corrupt practices in terms of impoverishing the masses and depriving them of high quality living standard is felt by all regardless of political, tribal or religious affiliation.

We advise Mrs. Patience Jonathan and others in her shoes to desist from taking desperate steps. The former First Lady should allow the law to take its due course. We remind her of the basic legal principle that she remains innocent until proved otherwise by a competent court of law. No one has the right to drag this country down with him or her. Nigeria is bigger than any individual, no matter how highly placed.

As we round up, we call on members of civil society and Nigerians in general to be wary of desperate looters and political shenanigans looking for hungry Nigerians to fight their dirty war. Looters eat alone. Let them face the music alone. Let us all unite to save this country from the claws of political oppressors and socio-economic predators. Let us all fight corruption without any political, ethnic or religious bias. Let us think of the Nigeria project, not politics, not tribe, not faith.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)