MURIC LAUDS HEROES OF BAGA

14^th January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC LAUDS HEROES OF BAGA

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has applauded troops who liberated Baga from the clutches of Boko Haram insurgents, now known as the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).


In a press statement issued on Monday 14th January, 2019 and signed by the director of the Islamic human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC commended men of the Nigerian Army at the Baga front for giving the insurgents a bloody nose.


“We appreciate the risk taken by each and every soldier who partook in the liberation of Baga. We owe huge debts to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots who flew daring sorties in the face of raging fire, NAF gunners whose concentrated firings gave cover to ground forces and the Nigerian Navy Special Forces whose shelling scared the hell out of the insurgents. They are the heroes of Baga.


“We invite Nigerians to give full support to these heroes. We should appreciate what they are doing for our dear country. We all could have become captives but for their sacrifices. Let us therefore support them in every way we can. Information is very vital. We must supply information to them immediately we have access to it. We must also show them love and care whenever they pass through our cities and villages.


“Another way Nigerians can manifest solidarity with the Nigerian Army in this war against insurgents is by visiting military hospitals nearest to them to donate blood. Blood donated to nearest military hospitals can be transferred to military health facilities close to the battle front and used to save the lives of injured Nigerian soldiers. Voluntary donation of blood to injured soldiers is the height of patriotism.


“It is germane at this juncture to warn saboteurs among the civilian population. You must stop giving information to the terrorists. Boko Haram insurgents can only bring death and suffering to your cities. Only Nigerian soldiers can protect your families and restore peace in the land.


“MURIC charges the media in particular to cooperate fully with the army in this war. This is not an expedition in which the media can be neutral. While we agree that professionalism should not be jettisoned, we must remember that we were Nigerians before we chose our professions and we are still Nigerians after choosing our professions. It must therefore be Nigeria first for all of us.


“It would have been a different thing if the Nigerian Army is fighting an unjust war or simply oppressing a weaker nation. Professionalism can come in there. That was exactly what the American media did during the Vietnam war (1st November, 1955 to 30th April 1975). US media criticism became heavily toxic and Gerald Rudolph Ford, the 38th president of the US, had no choice but to throw in the towel.


“But this is a different case. Our soldiers are fighting a noble cause. They are on the right. Our media cannot afford to turn against those who are on the right course. Our media cannot afford to be seen protecting killers of innocent children and pregnant women. We cannot be promoting the interest of those who bomb churches and mosques. The Nigerian media has no other country apart from the same Nigeria to which our gallant troops belong and which they are defending. This is definitely not Vietnam.


“We commiserate with families of the officer and soldier who fell in Baga. Those fallen heroes will continue to live in our hearts. We remember all our injured soldiers. We assure them that we feel their pain. They are not alone. The whole country is with them.


“As we round off, we implore the Nigerian Army to collaborate with the media to use the radio in the whole North East for dishing out pro-Nigerian Army propaganda. The radio is perhaps the only source of information to which the locals are emotionally attached. The Nigerian Army can exploit this to its advantage.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

DON’T CHANGE IG OF POLICE NOW

10^th January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

DON’T CHANGE IG OF POLICE NOW

There have been several calls recently for the appointment of a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) particularly as the tenure of the current holder of that office, Ibrahim Idris Kpotun expired on Tuesday, 3rd January, 2019 after reaching the mandatory 35 years in active service. He was formerly appointed on 21st March 2016.


However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), opposes the idea of retiring the IGP at this time. In a statement released late on Thursday evening, MURIC contended that it will be foolhardy to retire the IGP five or six weeks to a general election.


“Election period is a very sensitive period. Anything can happen and we all know the kind of security challenges our country is facing. There is no doubt that IG Idris Kpotun must have perfected his strategy for maintaining law and order during the coming general election. Some instructions must have been given to the state commands. Certain arrangements must also have been made to put all police formations in a state of readiness.


“A new IGP around this time will naturally make one or two changes because styles differ. This may not really augur well because the police force needs stability and continuity in an electioneering period. We know that administration is a continuum but you don’t change the goal post in the middle of the game.


“Seasoned administrators know that unless there is a force majeure, it will be unwise to change the officer who planned a project at the point of implementation. No university will change the head of a programme on the eve of an accreditation exercise.


“We are perturbed by the rancorous voices of dissent over this matter. Interestingly enough, this IGP will not be the first whose tenure was extended. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo extended Sunday Ehindero’s tenure by twelve months while Musa Yaradua also extended Mike Okiro’s tenure. So what is so new this time around?”




MURIC in the statement signed by its director and founder, Ishaq Akintola, a professor of Islamic Studies, blamed politicians for not thinking Nigeria.





“Equally disturbing is the fact that it is mainly members of the opposition with their cronies, lackeys, court jesters and boot-lickers who are making the loudest calls. This does not look good enough. Are some people afraid of their own shadows? Is it the fear of past deeds? We remember that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan used the police to harass state governors. Is someone afraid of reprisals? We appear to be thinking of grabbing power at all cost. We are not thinking of Nigeria.

“This is exactly what is missing in our politicians today. There is acute desertification of statesmanship whereas the same politicians who are rooting for the victory for their political parties today will be the first to defect to another party whenever their personal and narrow interests are threatened. We lack loyalty, moral principle and a clearly identified political ideology. What we can see now is that politicians are only thinking of 2019 election whereas what we need are statesmen who will be thinking of Nigeria after the elections. Who did this to Nigeria?


“In conclusion, MURIC charges President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of IGP Ibrahim Idris far beyond the election period in order to ensure a hitch-free 2019 general elections as well as post-election stability and to ignore all protestations to the contrary. We urge Nigerian politicians to think Nigeria, to have faith in the system, to imbibe principled politicization and to inculcate a veritable political ideology”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

STOP WITCH-HUNTING AMINA ZAKARI

9^th January, 2019



PRESS RELEASE:

STOP WITCH-HUNTING AMINA ZAKARI



The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the controversy surrounding the appointment of Amina Zakari to the National Collation Centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


The Islamic human rights organization has called upon those who are opposing her appointment to stop witch-hunting a female nominee.


“It is chauvinistic, myopic and symptomatic of pathological paranoia. Wailers appear to be descending to the abyss of undue sentiment. We should be addressing issues at this stage, not personalities. It is petty, insipid and pedestrian. The mere fact that Amina Zakari’s appointment into INEC predated President Muhammadu Buhari’s assumption of office by several years should close this argument. It is a non-issue.


“Also instructive is the fact that a prominent member of the opposition and a vocal critic of the Buhari administration himself admitted that he was the one who recommended Amina Zakari to former President Jonathan for employment in INEC. This admission alone is enough to dismiss all the cock and bull stories.


“MURIC is of the humble opinion that the opposition is overdoing it this time around. The opposition camp is going paranoid. We do not have to be so desperate. Heaven is not going to fall because this woman is attached to the collation centre particularly after her role has been differentiated from that of the chief collating officer.


“Besides, are we not trying to rob the womenfolk of another opportunity to play an effective role in the scheme of things in this country? Women have complained severally that men are taking all the slots. They are asking for more roles in all spheres.



“We are nonplussed that women liberation groups are silent over this. We believe this is the time for women to be assertive. A woman who is well qualified for a job is being denied the right to serve. If indeed democracy is about equal opportunities, then this is a threat to democratic ideals.

“Merit should be the watchword. Is the woman qualified for the job? That is the question we should be asking and not subjective, suggestive and witch-hunt quarries. What is tangential is her curriculum vitae. Her tribal leaning and relationship with anyone is peripheral. Nigeria will not get it right until we drop sentiments and settle for standards.

“This woman was chairman of the Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee of INEC from November 2014. She had also chaired the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) of INEC and she was a former National Electoral Commissioner at INEC. This is experience incarnate. What else do we want? Why are we so difficult to satisfy? Must INEC appoint only nominees of the opposition? Is that when we will be satisfied?  

“We are very disappointed hearing self-acclaimed activists and democratic demagogues shouting themselves hoarse in an attempt to force INEC to change its decision. It is unfair, unjust, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Amina Zakari must not be removed. We stand solidly behind INEC on this matter.


“MURIC charges INEC to remain resolute. Amina Zakari is a bona fide Nigerian. Nobody can Shugaba her. The worst those who oppose her appointment can do is to go to court. It is even an attempt to blackmail the presidency for anyone to start talking about moral on this matter. Was she appointed by this presidency?

“What else does the opposition want after INEC cleared the air on her role in the collation centre? Contrary to the claim being made by the opposition, Amina Zakari is not in charge of the collation of results. As the head of the Health and Welfare Committee of INEC, she is to oversee matters relating to health and welfare at the collation centre. How can this simple function generate so much hullabaloo? 

As a parting shot, we demand respect for Allah-given fundamental human right of Amina Zakari. Her right to the dignity of her human person must be upheld in the same way that her right to hold office and to partake in the activities relating to her office and appointment as a bona fide Nigerian must not be abridged for any reason whatsoever. We therefore charge INEC to forge ahead and ignore professional wailers. Finally, we reiterate our full confidence in INEC as composed as an impartial referee capable of organizing a free and fair general election.  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

IDPs FACE THREAT OF EXTINCTION

8^th January, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

IDPs FACE THREAT OF EXTINCTION

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is deeply worried by the alleged deteriorating condition of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East of Nigeria.




The Islamic human rights organization raised the alarm in a statement issued and signed by its founder and director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 8th January, 2019.




“According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, there are 2.4 million displaced people in the North East of Nigeria.




“This figure includes 471,000 IDPs in Cameroon, Chad and Niger and more than 228,000 refugees. Borno State government has also registered 42,000 orphans and 200,000 widows as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.




“In our own opinion, the Borno State government is overwhelmed as the number of IDPs in the state alone is higher than the population of the federal capital territory. These IDPs suffer from hunger and various ailments due to poor hygiene occasioned by the unhealthy environment in which some of them are kept.



“MURIC appeals to state governments all over the federation to rise to the occasion. The North East is facing a humanitarian crisis of monumental proportion. Drugs, food items, clothes, beddings, sanitary materials, etc are what sister states, charity groups and wealthy individuals can send to the Borno State government. We are most likely to avoid a spill-over effect if we can quickly rally round the government of Borno State. That is the true spirit of one Nigeria.




“In particular, we charge the Federal Government (FG) to make special allocations available for the relief of the IDPs. It is equally germane at this juncture to ask FG to expedite action on the North East Development Commission (NEDC) which we advocated for and which was approved about two years ago. Why have we not been hearing anything about the commission?




“We remind Nigerians of the need to actively support those who are suffering among us. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made kindness to fellow homo sapiens on earth a proviso for receiving mercy from those who are in heaven.




“Before we take a break, we will like to advocate severe punishment for theft, diversion, abuse or misuse of any relief material meant for IDPs”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)