MURIC MOURNS AISHA LEMU

6^th January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC MOURNS AISHA LEMU

The death has been announced of Hajia Aisha Lemu. She was the pioneer National Amirah of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) and wife of Justice Ahmed Lemu, a former Grand Qadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Niger State.


She studied at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and later obtained a postgraduate degree in English language. She converted to Islam at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, in the year 1961.


During her lifetime, the late Aisha Lemu served as the principal of Government Girls College, Sokoto and Women Teachers College, Minna. She also founded the Islamic Education Trust (IET) together with her husband

According to a statement issued on Sunday 6^th December, 2019 by Professor Ishaq Akintola, director and founder of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), “Aisha Lemu was a very resourceful woman, a prolific writer and author of many Islamic books. She was the chairman of FOMWAN Board of Trustees until her death. She was well known for her piety, generosity and diligence. It will be difficult to fill the vacuum she has left behind.

May Almighty Allah forgive her, have mercy on her and repose her gentle soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant her caring husband, her children and all members of her family the strength to bear this irreparable loss.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

HELICOPTER CRASH: MURIC EMPATHISES WITH THE ARMY

4^th January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

HELICOPTER CRASH: MURIC EMPATHISES WITH THE ARMY

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday announced the crash of one of its helicopters which occurred in the North East. It also announced the names of five officers who died in the crash: Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob (Pilot) in Command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas (Co-Pilot); Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim (Flight Technician); Lance Corporal Adamu Nura (Gunner), and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael (Gunner).


In the meantime, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has empathized with the NAF and the entire officers and men of the Nigerian Army on the sad incident. In a statement issued on Friday 4th January, 2018, MURIC expressed solidarity with the army in its war of liberation against Boko Haram.


The statement which was signed by the director and founder of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, reads:
“We are hit with deep sadness by this tragic incident. These five officers died so that the rest of us can live. They will live in our hearts forever. They are the heroes of the war against insurgency and we appreciate their sacrifice. Our hearts go to their families and we pray that Allah will provide them with succour.

“We charge the Nigerian Army to expedite action in the normal procedures to compensate the immediate relations left behind by the five officers in order to rubber-cushion the effect of the loss of their bread-winners.

“MURIC calls on soldiers at the battle front to remain resolute in gallantry until the insurgents are totally eliminated or until they surrender so that these NAF officers may not have died in vain. You are not alone. Nigerians are solidly behind you. We multiply your number in spirit each time you advance on the enemy and we lie beside you in the trenches. Great heroes of our land, surge forward, that we and your families may not end up as captives of Boko Haram.

“We remind Nigerians to play their roles effectively by maintaining a positive mind and by praying for the soldiers at the battle field. We reaffirm our belief that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. What is happening now is that the insurgents are holding desperately to a single straw like drowning men.

“Insurgents who were controlling 17 local governments are now compelled to wage guerilla warfare. Churches and mosques are no longer being bombed and the incident of suicide bombing has stopped almost completely. The last Christmas few days ago is a glaring testimony. No single church was attacked. No bombs exploded. We salute the army for this great feat.

“Whether we appreciate it or not, the achievements of the Nigerian Army in the past three years show the sharp contrast between Goodluck Jonathan’s army and that of Muhammadu Buhari. One is lackadaisical, the other is serious. One diverts army funds, the other focuses on adequate funding of the army.

“We can all see the difference. Nigerian soldiers who used to flee at the sight of the enemy now take the battle to the same foe. Around this time in 2015 when Nigerians were preparing for the general elections, truck-loads of American dollars diverted from army funds were shipped all over the country to buy votes. But nothing like that is happening now even though elections are just five weeks away.  This is why we are confident that Boko Haram will soon become history.

“We appeal to Nigerians to continue to support the Federal Government. We need unity to defeat our common enemy. We must give useful information about criminals to security agents because no matter how good they are, they cannot win the battle against criminals alone. Soldiers, policemen and other security agents need our goodwill and support to succeed. 

“Finally, we appeal to all churches and mosques to always include our soldiers in their prayers particularly in their weekly assemblies. Let us also pray for a peaceful election and a prosperous Nigeria”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: GIVE ALL CANDIDATES LEVEL PLAYING GROUND

3^rd January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: GIVE ALL CANDIDATES LEVEL PLAYING GROUND

As Nigerians warm up for the next presidential debate later this month (January 2019), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned that the organizers must give all candidates a level playing ground. 

It will be recalled that Eddi Emesiri, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Election Debates Group, listed political parties that would participate in the debate held on 14^th December, 2018 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel as Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN); All Progressives Congress (APC); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

This did not go down well with other political parties and the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore stormed the venue with his supporters to protest the exclusion of his running mate, Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai.

“We strongly condemn the exclusion of candidates who are willing to participate in debates. No candidate should have been excluded. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. The organizers should have prepared an all-inclusive roster indicating the date and time of each candidate’s turn in the debates. Nigerians deserve an explanation on the criteria used to arrive at the choice of only five candidates for that debate. Why was Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai excluded? On what ground were others like him also marginalized?

“Of course we blame those who compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register every Dick and Harry who applied for registration as a political party. INEC should have been allowed to set the rules and to request for certain criteria. Nigeria had 68 political parties as at January 2018. They became 91 in August. This is clumsy.

“Yet this proliferation does not hinder inclusiveness in any way if the organizers do their home work meticulously. Afterall 32 countries participated in the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia and each team had its own chance to showcase its skill.  

“Our democracy must be fully participatory, not partially inclusive. That is why foremost scientist, Jack Lively defined democracy as a ‘situation of equality’. Margolis Michael was more succinct as he called it ‘equal opportunity to participate’. We contend, therefore, that our democracy remains a sham until every candidate is given ‘equal opportunity to participate’.

“For the debates to earn the much desired credibility, the Nigeria Election Debate Group is advised to consult widely among the registered political parties. The possibility of truncating a much publicized debate through a court injunction brought by a marginalized political party cannot be ruled out. This is why the organizers have to work very hard to ensure hitch-free debates.

“In our own opinion, candidates who prefer to opt out of debates should be allowed to do so. There are silent achievers who have correct ideas. A candidate may not feel compelled to attend any debate if he has a clear vision that can guide him to his mission or if he is certain that his antecedent is enough to speak for him. Action speaks louder than voice while oratory on the podium can be misleading sometimes.

“As we round off, we call for fairness in the handling of debates. The organizers must give all candidates a level playing ground. No candidate, no matter how unimportant, must be put at a disadvantage while none, no matter how highly placed, must be favoured in any manner”.  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

1ST JANUARY: MURIC CONDEMNS FG FOR BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS

1^st January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

1^ST JANUARY: MURIC CONDEMNS FG FOR BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS 

The Federal Government declared today, 1st January 2018, as a public holiday thereby keeping faith with the practice since colonial days into Nigeria’s post-independence period.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the Federal Government (FG) for granting official recognition to 1st January for Christians to enjoy while ignoring the myriad of petitions from Muslims dating back to the 60s demanding recognition for 1st Muharram as the first day of the Islamic calendar.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the director and founder of the Islamic human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, today, Tuesday 1st January, 2019.

“Nigerian Muslims feel marginalised. The reality of the Nigerian situation has subjected Muslims in the country to religious segregation. Today 1st January 2019 was declared by FG in recognition of the Christo-Western Gregorian calendar. This happens every year. In essence, FG recognizes the Christian calendar but spurns the Islamic calendar despite several petitions and appeals to it dating back to the 60s. In particular, MURIC has consistently made this demand at least for the past ten years.

This is religious apartheid. A society which desires peace must embrace justice and fairness. Justice is the soul of peace. Nobody can deny one and enjoy the other. It is this socio-economic imbalance that has been responsible for the absence of genuine and enduring peace in Nigeria. 

Muslims suffered under colonial rule as every policy of the colonial master was designed to eliminate all vestiges of Islam. It is most unfortunate that successive post-independence regimes have pursued this lopsided policy and refused to review the situation. It is disappointing to note that Nigerian governments headed by Muslims have equally turned deaf ears to our complaints. 

“From Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to Muritala Muhammad, from Ibrahim Babangida to Sanni Abacha, Musa Yaradua and now Muhammadu Buhari, no Muslim head of state had the political will to bell the cat. Though we are not unaware of the strategy of agents of neo-colonialism whose stock-in-trade is to blackmail Muslim heads of state with the ‘Islamisation’ agenda in order to put them permanently on the defence, we expect that every Nigerian leader must possess the courage to enthrone justice and equity.

“In this regard, we applaud state governments in both Northern and Southern Nigeria which have so far recognized the Islamic calendar and declared 1st Muharram as holiday. Most worthy of mention are former governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and governor Isiaka Ajimobi of Oyo State. 

The fact that state governments did it and heaven did not fall shows that FG also can do it. What FG lacks is the political will. We are telling FG today that the courage to fail is cheap while the will to succeed is worth a king’s ransom. FG needs to wake up from slumber and do the needful. Justice delayed is justice denied. The time to attend to our grievance is now.

In view of this glaring injustice and the obvious lack of political will on the part of FG, MURIC hereby calls on Nigerian Muslims to prepare for a change in tactics. From now onwards, if FG continues with its lackadaisical attitude to the demands of Muslims for parity with their Christian neighbours, we will accompany our civil rights demands with peaceful protests. This is because it appears that the only language the government understands is physical appearance of agitators.

FG is the father of all. It must not be seen to favour one against the other. It must give all equally. A father who wants peace in the family must treat all the children equally. This is too glaring and FG can no longer pretend not to know that Muslims are asking for equal treatment.

The only difference in our struggle will be its peaceful nature because MURIC’s motto is ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’ and we will not abandon this golden principle. To start with, we are instructing our members throughout the federation to sit at home on 1st Muharram 1441 which corresponds to 31st August, 2019. However, Muslims will observe the sit-at-home on Friday, 30th August, 2019 to give more effect to their demand for parity and civil liberty.

“We refuse to be third class citizens in our own country. Nigeria belongs to all of us. We are not asking for any favour. We are demanding our Allah-given fundamental human right. Nobody has the right to take from us what Almighty Allah has given us. We will not be slaves in our land. 

“In conclusion, we give notice to FG to brace up for peaceful confrontation with Nigerian Muslims or to grant equal status to 1st Muharram by declaring the day as a public holiday like 1st January.” 

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

MURIC REJECTS KUKAH’S ALMAJIRI INITIATIVE

2^nd January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC REJECTS KUKAH’S ALMAJIRI INITIATIVE

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has kicked against Rev. Mathew Kukah’s almajiri initiative. It will be recalled that Rev. Kukah recently revealed his plan to train 10 million almajiri children in Northern Nigeria.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, 3^rd January, 2019, MURIC claimed that Kukah’s idea raises more questions than answers. The human rights group described Kukah’s proposal as a ploy for proselytisation, modern colonialism and a potential time bomb. The press statement was signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the director and founder of the organization.

“We all agree that something must be done about the almajiri children. We can welcome ideas from everyone but the implementation must be in the hands of Muslims in the region. Any other thing will make the intention questionable. We cannot pretend to be so naïve as to entrust our Muslim children to the hands of Christian gospellers. As far as we are concerned, Kukah’s almajiri dream is a Trojan horse.

“These children have teachers even if the system is unconventional. The parents entrusted them to the teachers and learning still takes place somehow. The devil we know is still better than the one we do not know and we expect Rev. Kukah to know better. Can any Christian community allow an Islamic organization to take their children away just like that? What is the fate of the children taken from Chibok to an Edo IDP centre in 2014?   

“Whatever the situation may be, we wish to caution Northern Muslims, particularly the elders, never to allow it to happen. Instead of allowing Christian missionaries to seize this kind of initiative, Northern Muslims should empower available Muslim NGOs to cater for almajiri children.

“We know from experience that whatever happens will be a point of reference in the near future. Who will bear the shame at that time? We therefore advise state governments in the region to rearrange their priorities and concentrate on the education and welfare of almajiri children. 

“One indisputable fact is that almajiri is essentially a system practiced by northern Muslims. It is not part of Christendom from North to South. Is Rev. Kukah telling us that he prefers to alleviate poverty among Muslims to doing same among Christians? Is he telling us that he loves to assist Muslims more than he loves to help Christians? Can Rev. Kukah give any guarantee that those children will remain the same at the end of his intervention? It is modern colonialism.

“When did the reverend father suddenly develop so much love for Muslims that he has now decided to give them preference above his Christian folks? Are there no poverty stricken children in the Christian majority Middle Belt particularly in Benue and Plateau? Why can’t he take his project there? This type of project demands trust. No NGO can successfully train children or adults in an atmosphere of mutual distrust.

“Another question has to do with funding. Who will fund this gigantic project? Our guess is that the fund will come (or has come) from one of those foreign donors. We are sure it cannot be the Nigerian government. This raises another major concern. The foreign donors and agencies are most likely to be from the West.

“Incidentally, Western donors are known for their preference for supporting Christian-oriented non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They dish out huge amounts of money to non-Muslim NGOs while Islamic organizations get pittance, and that is if they get anything at all. That is not to say we are blaming them. We have no moral right to do so.

“But we have every right to stand up against Kukah’s almajiri initiative and question the rationale behind a foreign donor or donors funding a project targeted at Muslim children particularly if the project is to be executed by a Christian organization.

“Are there no Islamic NGOs in the North? We are aware of no less than five NGOs that specialize in eliminating poverty among vulnerable people. In fact, one of them, the AlMajiri Child Right Initiative (ACRI), specializes in almajiri affairs. Is Rev. Kukah unaware of the existence of these Muslim NGOs? What effort has he made to find them?

“This project is repulsive. It has the tendency to portray Muslims as a bunch of unintelligent, irresponsible and carefree people. We cannot allow such a misleading impression to remain just like that. Muslims are responsible people, idealistic, pious, self-satisfied and integrity-loaded. The Glorious Qur’an asserts that we are the best among mankind (Qur'an 3: 110). Every Muslim is born free. We are nobody’s slaves and we bow only to Almighty Allah. We cannot allow anybody to paint us in another colour to the outside world.   

“We have reliable information that some of the existing Muslim NGOs have made futile attempts to secure funding for similar projects from foreign donors. Why would the same donors suddenly show interest in funding the initiative of a Christian reverend father while still ignoring those of genuine Muslim NGOs?

“MURIC smells a rat. The Kukah intervention is nothing but a trap. It is also intended to ridicule northern leaders and Muslims. Even now that it has not started, there are insinuations here and there that Northern Muslims are incapable of rescuing the almajiri children and a reverend father has to come to their aid. We are of the strong opinion that there is a hidden derision in this.    

“We caution foreign donors to desist from exploiting our predicament. We know about giving people fish to feed them for only one day thereby enslaving them forever. But we also know about teaching people how to fish thereby feeding and emancipating them for a lifetime.

“We invite foreign donors who are genuinely interested in helping the almajiris to do so through Muslim NGOs. This Kukah intervention is a time bomb. It is calculated at swinging the population pendulum in terms of which faith controls the North in the next twenty or twenty five years.  

“Christianity came to the South in the 19^th century under the guise of Western education. Thousands of Muslims in the South-West were forcefully converted to Christianity in Western schools. Such a plan could not work in the North. The next target of the hot gospellers is the North and the weapon is going to be money. The West is pumping huge amounts of money into Christian movements in the North.

“On the contrary, the same West has subjected Islamic organizations in Nigeria to financial strangulation under the guise of fighting terror. Through blackmail and use of force, all Arab donors have been neutralized by the West. This has been happening for the past fifteen years. What kind of game is the West playing and how do we expect the Muslims to keep quiet when projects like the Kukah almajiri intervention come up? How do we start seeing the foreign donors as people who have good intentions for us? How can we trust those they sponsor? How can we trust Rev. Hasan Mathew Kukah? 

“Is Kukah aware that another way of looking at the almajiris is to see them as Islamic students? Why would the teachers and parents look on while the Kukah initiative lasts? There is therefore every possibility that the initiative may lead to religious crisis midway. 

“To secure the confidence of Northern Muslims, Kukah should put his cards on the table. Who are the donors? How much are we looking at? What is the time frame? This project is not transparent enough. It is an attempt to blindfold Northern Muslims while their children and Islamic students are taken into spiritual slavery under the guise of economic and educational assistance. Nigerian Muslims have seen enough from their Christian neighbours to make them wary of ‘generous’ offers.

“As we draw the curtain, we suggest that Kukah should take Muslim NGOs in the North into confidence. He can co-opt some of them into a committee, allow them to do the implementation while he and the donors monitor the use of funds for the project. Whatever training the almajiri children receive should include the learning of Arabic language and Islamic studies. Anything short of this is unacceptable”. 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)