KAJURU MASSACRE: CAN LIED, ELRUFAI RIGHT

17^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

KAJURU MASSACRE: CAN LIED, ELRUFAI RIGHT

Rev. Joseph Hayab, the Chairman of Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has denied that Fulanis were killed in Kajuru local government of Kaduna State. Governor Nasir ElRufai had led journalists and security men to the sites of the killings on Saturday 16^th February, 2019. The killings took place the previous day.

Reacting to the controversy, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described the denial of the massacre as condescending, shocking and inhuman. MURIC’s reaction was contained in a press statement issued late Sunday evening 17^th February, 2019.

“We are shocked to our marrows that CAN chairman in Kaduna State had the temerity to deny this horrendous and criminal act. We are talking about 66 full-blooded human beings hacked down in their sleep, slaughtered and burnt. Survivors identified the attackers as Christian militia and here is the CAN chairman falsifying the barbaric massacre as if it never happened.

“We are really disappointed with the caliber of people posing as religious leaders. Peace will continue to elude us in this country as long as we refuse to admit the fact that there are criminal elements in our midst. Lasting peace can only be found if the law-abiding faithfuls in all creed collaborate, isolate criminal elements among them and hand them over to law enforcement agencies.

“22 women and 12 children were among those killed in cold blood. Their souls cry out for justice. MURIC has incontrovertible evidence of the massacre. This criminal act is being watered down for now in order to avoid escalation at this critical period of the 2019 general elections. But we have no doubt that both the perpetrators and those who provide cover for them will continue to live with the heavy burden on their criminal consciences until nemesis catches up with them.

       

“It is most shameful that a religious leader of this status will lie openly that the killing of 66 human beings never happened. The Nigerian Army in Kaduna confirmed the massacre as well as the number. Yet Rev. Hayab keeps denying. Religious leaders are respected for their righteousness but how righteous is a lying cleric?

“We have no doubt that the conscience of the chairman of Kaduna state branch of CAN will forever nag him. He will never be free for denying the truth. The Bible says, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32). Hayab will remain a slave of his nagging conscience until he confesses his sin.

The statement which was signed by the founder and director of the Islamic human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, also lamented the lukewarm attitude of the media to the massacre.

“The silence of the Nigerian press over this massacre is equally nauseating. It is most unprofessional. The Nigerian press has always been known to go agog when Christians are the victims but they will look the other way when Muslims are the victims. Can we say such a group seeks enduring peace?

“MURIC calls on the international community to rise to the occasion. In particular, we call the attention of foreign observers of this 2019 general elections to this gruesome act. This massacre cannot be isolated from the 2019 elections because it was perpetrated on its eve. Christian militiamen have committed a shocking atrocity under cover of darkness. The whole world should condemn this bestiality. This mass murder of innocent and vulnerable people was committed under the nose of foreign observers. It should form part of their concern. They should condemn it because we know what they would have done had Christians been the victims. We demand their reaction to it as they are still in Nigeria.   

“We invite all men of conscience to speak up. The man dies in him who fails to condemn the merciless massacre of women and children in their sleep. The Nigerian civil society is yet to speak up 48 hours after the brutal killings. What does this mean?

“Are Fulanis not human beings? Is it because they are Muslims? Are Muslims not entitled to fundamental human rights? This is the tragedy of our society both locally and internationally. Hypocrisy is the order of the day. Everybody in the so-called civilized world and civil society is calling for peace but nobody is calling for justice. They have forgotten that justice is the soul of peace. Nobody can deny one and still enjoy the other.  

“They accuse Muslims of terrorism but they are the worst terrorists. They forget that terrorism is mere smoke. Injustice, oppression, downpression, persecution and provocation are the real fire which cause the smoke. No good firefighter will turn his hose towards the smoke. Nay, his target must be the tongues of flame. We therefore assert clearly, categorically and unequivocally that those who accuse Muslims of terrorism got it wrong. They are treating the symptom while they leave the disease to spread.    

“On a final note, we appeal to Muslims throughout Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna State, to remain calm and law-abiding. The aim of the attackers is to provoke retaliation so as to disrupt the electoral process. We therefore charge Muslim faithfuls to refrain from any violent reaction. On the other hand, we demand justice. We call on the security agencies to fish out the killers without delay. It is the failure of officials to apprehend culprits which often compel the aggrieved to resort to self-help. Justice delayed is justice denied”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

POSTPONEMENT: INEC IGNORED THE DIVINE FACTOR

17^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

POSTPONEMENT:

INEC IGNORED THE DIVINE FACTOR

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has pinpointed a major factor for the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to kick-start the 2019 general elections yesterday, Saturday, 16^th February, 2019 as earlier scheduled.    

According to the Islamic human rights organization, INEC’s failure can be attributed to its lack of concern for the divine will. MURIC’s statement was contained in a press release dated 17^th February, 2019. It was signed by its founder and director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Expatiating further, MURIC said, “Divine truth will always overwhelm social truth. INEC kept telling Nigerians that it was ready. But Almighty Allah knew that it was not actually ready. They told the Federal Government (FG) that no stone had been left unturned. They assured Nigerians that everything was in place. INEC beat its chest before foreign observers.

“But all along, INEC forgot a major factor. It ignored the divine factor, the font et origo. INEC chairman should have added by the grace of Allah (or by God’s power, or bi qudratillahi). By the grace of Allah or by the grace of God is more powerful and more correct than the popular phrase ‘in sha Allah’ because ‘in sha Allah’ simply means ‘if Allah wishes’.

“What happens if Allah does not wish? Nigerians who use this phrase are therefore advised to use ‘biqudratillahi’ which is a more direct and more effective invocation of the power of Allah in support of our plans. Nigerians must remember that the gap-toothed general on Minna hill-top used the same ‘in sha Allah’ to lead Nigerians by the nose for several years.

“One of the beauties of Islam is that it teaches homo sapiens not to express any desire or make any plan without relying on Allah. The Glorious Qur’an says inter alia: “And do not say I will do so and so tomorrow without adding ‘by Allah’s Grace’. But if you forget to do so at the first instance, cite Allah’s name afterwards and say, ‘I hope my Lord will guide me even better than I expect’” (Glorious Qur’an 18:23 – 24).

“The Qur’an also goes on to warn us that no matter how much we try, we will never be able to execute our plans except Allah so desires (wa ma tashauun ila an yashaa Allah Qur’an 81:29; laa tanfudhuuna ilaa bi sultaanin Qur’an 55:33). The Qur’an also says our plans are nothing unless we involve Allah in them, “They planned and Allah planned but Allah is the best of all planners” (Qur’an 3:54; 27:50).

“Even in the Bible, Jesus taught his disciples not to rely on the ability of man to do things but to rely on God who can do all things. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10: 27; Mathew 19:29).

“MURIC therefore sends out this strong message to Nigerians. You cannot be ready until Allah is ready. INEC cannot be ready until God is ready. Remember how we all voted in the June 12, 1993 election. We all voted for Chief MKO Abiola. But it was all in vain because Allah did not vote for him.

“Let INEC and the rest of us borrow one or two leaves from this message. Do not underestimate the power of Allah and His place in the actualization of plans. To Him belongs the force majeure. Let this be a lesson to all public officers and political leaders. The Muslims among them must put Allah first while the Christians among them should put God first.

MURIC assured Nigerians that all is not lost. “But do not lose hope”, Akintola added. “The faithful should be hopeful. Allah is wonderful. He will not let the righteous down. The Qur’an says, ‘So do not lose heart, nor fall into despair for you shall be victorious if you are believers (Qur’an 3:139; Mathew 6:24 – 33).   

“Although MURIC is a human rights group, we are faith-based and that should make the difference in a way. We must advocate human rights from the point of view of righteousness, godliness and the fear of Allah. We must encourage worship and supplication because there is no limit to the power of prayer.

“In this regard, we call on all Nigerians regardless of religious leaning to embark on a 3-day fasting and intensive prayers from tomorrow Monday, 18^th February to Wednesday 20^th February, 2019. The forces arraigned against our nation are powerful and ruthless. We need prayers to overcome them.

“Our prayer points should include a successful and peaceful general election. Let us pray for Allah (God) to take control of our affairs. Pray that all powers of evil poised to cause confusion in this election shall be vanquished. Pray that all those behind the suffering of the poor be brought to shame.

“Pray that the Supreme Creator should give us a progressive National Assembly through this 2019 election. Pray that looters and thieves should lose in this election. Pray that all those who are behind the killing of innocent people should be exposed. In Allah’s Mighty Name we pray!

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT: GIVE INEC BENEFIT OF DOUBT

16^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT: GIVE INEC BENEFIT OF DOUBT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the postponement of the general elections by one week. Presidential and national assembly elections will now be held on Saturday 23rd February while gubernatorial and state assembly elections will take place on Saturday 9th March, 2019. INEC cited logistic reasons for the postponement.

Sequel to this postponement, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to Nigerian voters to give INEC the benefit of doubt. In a press statement issued on Saturday 16th February, 2019, the Islamic human rights organization called on Nigerians to take the electoral body for its words. 

“The challenge before INEC is gargantuan. Though the electoral body cited logistics alone, we should understand that security is a general problem facing Nigerians. The postponement was not informed by that aspect because the security agencies have risen to the challenge. The report that electoral materials meant for twelve states were missing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vault must be worrisome.

“A truck-load of thumb-printed ballot papers was seized by the police in Kano. INEC’s offices were burned down in two South Eastern states. A woman was allegedly arrested with 5,000 voters’ cards in Aba. A man was also allegedly arrested with prepared election result sheets in the same Aba. The sum of $1.2 billion was reportedly seized from another suspect heading towards Akwa Ibom government house. Another man who tried to steal election materials in the CBN was also apprehended.

“MURIC gives kudos to the security agencies for nipping these plots in the bud. The culprits must face the full wrath of the law. We urge the security agencies not to relent in their effort to ensure law and order during the elections. 

“Finally, we appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience and understanding as INEC strives to perfect its logistics before the commencement of the postponed elections on Saturday 23rd February, 2019. 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CONDEMNS KILLING OF 66 FULANIS IN KADUNA

15^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS KILLING OF 66 FULANIS IN KADUNA

Sixty-six Fulanis have been reportedly killed in Kajuru Local Government of Kaduna State. The incident occurred towards evening on Friday, 15th February, 2019. 

In a swift reaction, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the killing. MURIC, an Islamic human rights organization, described the killings as barbaric, inhuman and provocative. In a press statement issued minutes after the report of the killings reached Nigerians, the rights group said it was certain that the killings were intended to truncate the general elections which are set to begin tomorrow, Saturday, 16th February, 2019. The statement was signed by the director and founder of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“This killing is horrendous and cowardly act. It is calculated to truncate the general elections and also to provoke reactions. It is nothing but a terrorist act. No more, no less. The culprits must be apprehended. We strongly condemn the killings. Those who target vulnerable and innocent women and children for merciless killings deserve due punishment.

“These are rebellious subjects, enemies of peace. They see defeat staring at them squarely in the face in the 2019 elections. But they have decided to tow the path of violence instead of taking the expected outcome with equanimity. 

“MURIC charges the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kaduna State to bring the culprits to book with immediate effect. Steps must be taken by both the government and security agencies to prevent the crisis from escalating. We appeal to Fulanis in the state to exercise restraint.

“The timing of the killings suggest that the culprits intend to cause mayhem capable of disrupting the general election not only in Kaduna State but in the whole country. That is why they launched their attack on the eve of the general elections. They have only used Kaduna State as a launching pad. We therefore call on the Nigerian security agencies to be on the tip-toes of alertness in order to ward off any crisis that rears its ugly head anywhere in the country particularly during the general elections.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC TO NIGERIANS: VOTE FOR A NEW NIGERIA

14^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO NIGERIANS: VOTE FOR A NEW NIGERIA

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has admonished the Nigerian electorate to ‘vote for a new Nigeria’ as the nation goes to the polls on Saturday 16th February, 2019 and Saturday, 2nd March, 2019. 

MURIC, an Islamic human rights organization declared in its voters’ enlightenment statement issued on Thursday, 14th February, 2019 that Nigerian voters must sustain the tempo of the change mantra and rapid growth which has manifested in various facets of life in the country. The statement was signed by the organisation’s founder and director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Expatiating further, MURIC said, “Nigerians were treated with derision outside the country until recently. Transparency International (TI) ranked Nigeria First Most Corrupt Country in 2001, Second Most Corrupt in 2003 and Third Most Corrupt in 2004 while a former prime minister of Britain described Nigerians as ‘fantastically corrupt’ about three years ago.

“Nigeria remains poor despite our humongous human and material resources due to corruption. All these are due to the fact that only 1% of the population (the notorious but powerful tiny cabal) have arrogated 85% of the total wealth to themselves while the overwhelming 99% struggle over the remaining 15% of the resources of the land. As a result of this socio-economic imbalance, Nigeria is rated today as the 26^th poorest and 20^th hungriest country in the world. The average Nigerian still lives on less than $1 per day. Our per capita income is still under $300.  

“Our oil export revenue between 2010 and 2014 speaks eloquently of our culture of waste. The average price per barrel was $110. But we frittered every kobo away. We enjoyed stable oil production at 2.4 million barrels per day during this period. At the lowest we sold at $93.61 per barrel. Thus we were able to realise $224 million per day and $81b per year (N12.8 trillion at the old rate). The most spectacular year was 2011 when Nigeria earned $99 billion!  

“Yet there is virtually nothing to show for all that money. Successive regimes from 1999 to 2015 struggled to out-Herod Herod. It was an outrageous contest to out-do the biblical prodigal son (Luke 15:11 – 19) and an equally ludicrous quest to ensure that Nigeria matched up to the description of the Qur’anic city of ingrates (qaryatan aaminatan mutmainatan fakafarat bi an‘umillahi Glorious Qur’an 16:112).

“As a result of their superfluously voracious greed, our roads became death traps. Public hospitals were worse than public mortuaries. The walls of school buildings fell while the roofs leaked. Earlier on, Nigeria’s public assets like the Nigerian Airways and the Nigerian Railway Corporation received the death sentence courtesy of rapaciously greedy political shenanigans and their avariciously gluttonous and pathologically corrupt capitalist business class.   

“Surprisingly, the present administration which earned $95 billion only from oil in its three and a half years was able to perform better. Note that the Jonathan administration had realized $99 billion in 2011 alone. These are the facts that we owe Nigerian citizens as a human rights body. These are facts that can guide them rightly as they go to the polls.

“It is the sacred duty of civil society to educate the electorate with fact-laden analysis. It is the inalienable Allah-given fundamental right of MURIC to lay the facts bare without fear or favour. Besides, it is the duty of every patriotic Nigerian to search for and rely on real facts. These are verifiable facts and figures. Nigerians should not allow political demagogues to hoodwink them. We note with deep concern that those who brought the country to its knees in their 16-year rule of ruination are the most vocal because they have mastered the art of controlling the paraphanalia of false propaganda.

“Most state governments were owing salaries until the present regime came. In spite of the low income from oil at an average of $45 per barrel and the loss of 1.2 million barrels per day due to disruption by the Niger Delta Avengers, this administration was able to bail out debtor states. Retirees in the railway and airways who had been abandoned for over 15 years were paid. The monthly allowance of youth corpers was increased. The railways roared back to life in Kaduna, Abuja, Abeokuta, Ajaokuta and Itakpe-Warri axis. Lagos-Ibadan distress-way wore its old bright smile as a real express-way. Second Niger Bridge broke more than a decade old jinx.

“Nigeria overcame recession within one year. Power generation rose from under 300 megawatts to 7,000. Even Forbes could not ignore the monumental and speedy growth as it listed Nigeria as numero uno among ten other African countries which it described as biggest economies in Africa for the year 2018.

“External reserves now stand at $47 billion from a paltry $28 billion inherited from the past regime in 2015. But the icing on the cake is the fact that unlike past administrations, this regime refused to dip its hands in the external reserve to finance the 2019 general elections. Boko Haram insurgents who occupied 17 local governments in Borno State are now on the run. They now come poaching from Chad and Niger in hit and run guerilla tactics.

“What does this kind of administration deserve? How can we show our gratitude to a leader who gave us so much and took nothing in return? In a country where many public officers hide hundreds of millions of naira, and foreign currencies in multiple local and foreign accounts; in a country where 55 houses are traced to a single public official; what does a leader who has just one 3-bedroom bungalow in his home town and another house in Kaduna, a leader who has no foreign account, no private jet, etc deserve? 

“We in MURIC ask Nigerians: Are you going to be like the ten lepers whom Jesus healed but only one of them came back to show gratitude (Luke 17:11 - 32)? The Glorious Qur’an says Allah will increase His blessings for us if we manifest gratitude (Qur’an 14:7). The hadith says those who fail to appreciate their fellowmen (who they see clearly and whose dividends of democracy they enjoy) will never thank the Supreme Creator (whom they do not see). How best can we express gratitude? 

“We affirm that the best way that Nigerians can show their gratitude to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is by voting for him on Saturday 16th February. Contrary to the erroneous impression that groups should remain neutral, MURIC upholds the philosophy of standing up for the truth and rejecting falsehood and fence-sitting. We do not have to please politicians. The only entity we owe allegiance is Nigeria. We have a duty to hit the nail on the head in order to save our country from going back down the drain one more time after making so much progress. 

“We have seen the ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and the ‘ugly’ on the Nigerian political landscape. The ‘good’ are on the side of integrity, transparency, probity and accountability. They are the friends of the masses and the true patriots who are developing the country’s infrastructure and touching the lives of the poor masses in various ways. The ‘bad’ are on the side of selfishness, waste, greed and corruption. They nearly ruined Nigeria. They are agents and sympathisers of the 1% over-pampered tiny cabal. The ‘ugly’ are in-between. They are the onlookers who idolize their oppressors out of ignorance. But in this battle between the good and the ugly, every onlooker is either a traitor (of his country Nigeria) or an accomplice (aiding and abetting the destruction of his country). 

“As we draw the curtain, we remind Nigerians that they should not expect their own country to be fixed in three and a half years when it took Mahathir Muhammad 22 years (1981-2003) to fix Malaysia. Lee Kuan Yew spent 30 years of eight consecutive terms in office (1959-1990) to redeem Singapore. Jerry Rawlings spent 26 years (1981-2002) before he could reform Ghana and Meles Zenawi worked assiduously on Ethiopia for 12 good years (1995-2012). Nigerians must therefore vote for the sustenance of the new Nigeria whose emergence began in 2015. We must not allow the mistake of 1985 to repeat itself. We ask patriotic Nigerians to vote for integrity, infrastructure and steady growth.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CHARGES NIGERIANS TO VOTE MASSIVELY

11^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CHARGES NIGERIANS TO VOTE MASSIVELY

As Nigerians prepare to vote in the general elections on 16th February, 2019 and 2nd March, 2019, an Islamic human rights organization has appealed to Nigerians to go out and vote massively on election days. 

In a statement issued on Monday 11th February, 2019, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) appealed to Nigerians not to adopt a lukewarm attitude towards the forthcoming general elections. The statement was signed by the founder and director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC added, “We must not be lackadaisical about this election because it is a watershed in the history of our nation. For the first time in a very long period, Nigerians have the opportunity to choose between sentiment and objectivity and between reality and sheer mirage. 

“We have a lifetime opportunity to choose between motion without movement and progressive motion. This is the time to decide whether to return to the regime of rapaciously voracious kleptomaniacs who gave us darkness and bad roads, those who killed our old railway, national air carrier, Dunlop, Michellin, etc,  or to march forward with those who have improved our electricity, repaired our roads, built new Macadam roads, brought back the good old days of rail transport system, paid retirees and did much more.

“MURIC will not hide the truth from Nigerians because we are very much concerned. We cannot keep quiet because we are significant stakeholders. The next few days will determine whether the Nigerian masses who are under severe economic oppression and acute poverty will be set free. These are men and women who are at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid in this country today. There is an urgent need to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and only a regime which is committed to the development of critical infrastructure can do that. 

“We must vote our conscience. What we are advocating is massive turnout at the polling booths. Nigerians of all persuasions: Christians, Muslims, traditionalists must go to the polls. Nigerians of all tribes must do the same. Poverty knows no religion. Disease knows no creed. Hunger knows no tribe. Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Itsekiri, etc, Muslims, Christians and traditionalists have all been trapped for hours on the bad roads for the past sixteen (16) years. All of us have been enjoying it now that they are being repaired regardless of where we belong. The new trains will not turn back anyone because he is a Muslim or a Christian. 

“The sacrifice which we must make on those voting days are not for us per se, it is for our children, our grand children and our great grand-children. Let us stand there in the sun or in the rain as the case may be on that day knowing fully well that it is the day of sowing so that we can reap in future. The smooth roads, the tube, the underground rails, the trollies, the trams, the fantastic engineering network of overhead bridges which advanced countries enjoy today did not just get there by wishful thinking. The citizens worked consciously for it and made sacrifices. They also made sure that they did not elect thieves. They picked people of integrity. It is now our turn. 

“Unless we do the needful, our children are going to ask us what we did when we saw things were deteriorating in this country. Why did you allow Nigeria to become this rotten? Why did you surrender our country to political shenanigans? Why can’t we enjoy electricity like other countries? 

“We heard that you restarted the railways and they worked in 2019, where are they now? We heard that the second Niger Bridge was more than half completed in 2019, who stopped it? We heard that an ultramodern cancer machine was installed in the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in 2019, what happened to that machine? Why are Nigerians still travelling outside the country to cure cancer? Why is cancer still killing Nigerians? Why is our generation wasted away?

“MURIC reminds Nigerians that 2019 election is not about religion or ethnicity. We must vote for those who will make our country great by improving infrastructure, raising the standard of living, paying workers regularly, plugging leaking holes and promoting transparency, probity and accountability. 

“We urge young Nigerians to eschew violence in all its ramifications before, during and after the elections. Those who hire thugs will continue to live after the election whereas many of those who allow themselves to be used may die in the process. Our youths must therefore avoid violent acts like ballot-snatching and the kidnapping of opposition candidates.

“As a parting shot, MURIC appeals to Nigerian voters: don’t sell your vote. It is your power. It is your right to choose the direction you want your country to go. It is your conscience and your conscience is your essence. The man dies in him who puts his conscience on sale. We appeal to candidates of various categories in the 2019 general elections to be valiant in contest, humble in victory and magnanimous in defeat. It must be Nigeria first. 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)