WITHDRAW YOUR QUERY: MURIC TELLS NBA

11^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

WITHDRAW YOUR QUERY: MURIC TELLS NBA 

 The prosecution counsel of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, has been given a query by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for taking the brief. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar, has told NBA that he would not respond to the query until Onnoghen’s case has been determined by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).      

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization has described NBA’s action as reactionary, repugnant and condescending. MURIC expatiated further in a press statement signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 11^th March, 2019, that NBA’s action was anti-people and unpatriotic.

“We are bewildered by NBA’s latest action. They are determined to make it impossible for the suspended CJN to be prosecuted. In other words, NBA is telling Nigerians that the man is above the law. This is contrary to the principles of justice, fairness and equality before the law which lawyers have been pushing down our throats for ages.

“Are we no longer equal before the law? Has the temple of justice become George Orwell’s Animal Farm where ‘four legs are good but two legs better?’ Nigerians are waiting for an answer. Nay, the world too is watching. The world is waiting to see how much cover Nigeria’s body of lawyers will give to one of them who is accused of corruption.

“How has accepting a brief become crime? NBA’s action is an indisputable disservice to the rule of law. It is repulsive to the law of natural justice. This action has a very strong potential of breaking NBA along the North-South dichotomy.

“Pray, what does NBA want? What is NBA afraid of? NBA took on the man who accepted appointment as Acting CJN. Now it has queried the SAN who took the brief. It also allegedly demanded his call to bar certificate. Clandestine moves are being made to delist him as a lawyer. This is the height of intimidation.

“We demand that NBA withdraws its query from the prosecution counsel in order to save its good name. That query is unacceptable. It contravenes the principle of natural justice. It translates to an attempt to coerce the prosecution and interrupt the cause of justice. NBA is simply obstructing justice, exerting undue influence on the prosecution and retarding the rule of law. These are grave allegations in any sane society.

“By issuing a query to the prosecuting counsel, NBA is also promoting impunity, encouraging corruption and jettisoning the moral angle which is more important to Nigerians. NBA should remember that the law is made for human beings and not vice versa.

“We call on senior members of the profession to call NBA to order. Conscienceless power should not be allowed to persecute powerless conscience in the circle of learned men. It is the path to the destruction of all modicum of integrity left in any society.

“MURIC commends the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar SAN, for exhibiting uncommon courage. We charge him to remain undaunted. Nigerians are not the fools some people take them for. They are watching proceedings in the court of public opinion. They are the ones who will decide whose names go to the hall of fame and whose names are dropped in the dustbin of history.

“In our concluding remarks, we affirm clearly, categorically and unequivocally that Nigerians reject NBA’s query to the prosecution counsel. We therefore demand the its unconditional withdrawal. We charge NBA to desist from attempts to provide illegal cover for corrupt colleagues, whether they are senior or junior”.  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

USE YOUR VOTE TO SUPPORT ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR

7^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

USE YOUR VOTE TO SUPPORT ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR 

As Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters prepare to go to the polls once again on Saturday 9^th March, 2019 to elect state governors, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has charged Nigerians to manifest their patriotism by using their votes in support of the war against corruption.

This was stated in a press release issued by the Islamic human rights organization on Thursday, 7^th March, 2019. The statement was signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“Nigerian voters have the right to be properly enlightened about the need to vote at all and to vote right. It is about a better tomorrow. It is about ensuring that our children do not suffer from poverty, disease, darkness, ignorance and joblessness the way we were made to suffer. It is about insulating the coming generation of Nigerians against the ‘wasted generation’ phenomenon.

“The repercussions of corruption over the years have been most felt among the middle class and the downtrodden masses. It has brought acute poverty, epileptic power supply, poor public health facilities, pension woes and a comatose education sector.

“But things started looking up within the short span that the Buhari administration locked horns with the corruption cankerworm. Electricity megawatt rose from 3,000 to 7,000. Nigeria’s road network witnessed an unprecedented turnaround. The railways roared back. Pensioners were able to smile and several social welfare schemes which were put in place facilitated the redistribution of wealth in such a manner that poor Nigerians received cash directly from the Federal Government (FG).

“All these go to prove that the anti-corruption efforts of the Buhari administration have yielded fruits. Our national image has also improved. Whereas Transparency International (TI) ranked Nigeria as the First Most Corrupt nation in the whole world in 2001, Second Most Corrupt in 2003 and Third Most Corrupt in 2004, our rating has now improved tremendously. According to the 2018 Corruption Perception Index by TI, Nigeria now occupies number 144 out of 175 countries.  

“We stand a good chance of boosting the war against corruption on Saturday by voting for governorship candidates who identify with President Muhammadu Buhari. On the contrary, we will be supporting corruption if we cast our votes for candidates who oppose our president. Also, the dividends of democracy which we have seen in form of better roads, railways, improved power supply, etc, stand a good chance of continuing at a higher scale.

“It is not about any political party. It is for the sake of Nigeria. Our clarion call is to awaken true patriots. We must allow the good works of President Buhari to continue without distractions. We must vote in such a way that conflicting interests are removed in developmental issues. For instance, metropolitan cities like Lagos, Kaduna and Kano stand to gain more by aligning with the center.

“Every nation that seeks genuine breakthrough must model its life pattern after a hero. South Africans chose Nelson Mandela. America picked George Washington.  Lenin built Russia. China had Chairman Mao. Malaysia had Mahathir Muhammad. Today President Muhammadu Buhari has become the father of modern Nigeria but he has only worked halfway. He needs our votes for his governorship candidates to consolidate his position.  

“On a last note, we remind Nigerians that although Buhari won the battle with his victory at the presidential election held on 23^rd February, 2019, the war rages on. Corruption will continue to fight back. The number of state governors who line up behind Mr. President will go a long way to determine how effective the war against corruption will be. This is why we must use our votes this Saturday to support the fight against corruption. The way we vote will tell the world whether or not we cherish decency, discipline, integrity, infrastructural development, stable power supply and the elimination of poverty.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

REJECT FANATICAL CANDIDATES

6^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

REJECT FANATICAL CANDIDATES 

As the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections draw near, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised Nigerians to reject candidates who manifest religious fanaticism.       

This was stated in a press statement signed by the Director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 6^th March, 2019.

“We have to get things right in this country. We heard some people making laughable predictions before the presidential elections. Their prognostications came to nothing. Some of them even said the president would die if he tried to contest. Well, you all saw what happened. The president contested and won the election. He is still as fit as a fiddle. But the funny thing is that some Nigerians are still following such opportunists and liars.

“It is clear that many people did not learn any lesson from that. No, not our people. We are still exploiting religious sentiment. A candidate in Oyo State distributed thousands of posters on which were inscribed the words: I am your brother in Faith, I need your support, prayer and vote. Nigerian Christians must vote and pray. Oyo State Chapter Urges Churches in Oyo State to vote …(name withheld)  as Executive Governor of Oyo State 2019.

“That is how low we have descended. The only qualification a candidate now needs to possess is membership of our worship centers. Who did this to Nigeria? How can anyone hold this candidate accountable in governance when he has his brothers in faith to defend every wrong step he takes?

“No civilized society will allow political campaigns to take this lowly turn. It is kindergarten, pedestrian and puerile. What is the substance in this kind of appeal? There is nothing there to offer except faith and brotherhood. Where is competence? Where is respect for the rule of law? What does he have to say about the security of lives and properties? Where is the promise to deliver the dividends of democracy? Can anybody blame this candidate if he wins the election and syphons every kobo to private pockets?

“Candidates must showcase reasonable credentials and manifestos before we can support them. We must scrutinize their antecedents. Mere membership of the same mosque or church is not enough. That is sentiment. Thieves also worship in mosques and churches. Not everyone who wears a turban is an Imam and not everyone who wears a cassock is a cleric. Nigeria is a land of acrobatic religiousity and paradoxical criminality. If we are to judge by the proliferation of churches and mosques, there should be no single thief or drug dealer in Nigeria but the reverse is the case.

“MURIC calls on Nigerians to reject religious fanatics among the candidates warming up for the elections this Saturday, 9^th March, 2019. Pastors and Imams who instruct their followers on who they should vote for are doing so for selfish reasons. They are saying it to the hearing of the candidates so that they can reap tremendous gains when the candidates win. The gains will come in form of huge tithes and sadaqah for the next four years and for doing virtually nothing.

“Tax-payers’ money that should be used to provide infrastructure will go into the pockets of individuals. Mallams and pastors will corner juicy contracts at the expense of genuine contractors. Yet they will end up doing shoddy jobs and governors will not be able to complain. Our roads will remain bumpy. The roofs of our school buildings will continue to leak.  The state cannot make any palpable progress because instead of promoting economic progress, fanatical governors will encourage people to spend the whole of their lives praying on their knees in churches or on their mats in the mosques. These are candidates who turn religion into the people’s opium.

“That does not mean that we condemn prayers in toto. We should work hard and pray a little. Ora et labora. Don’t waste your vote on gymnastic fanatics. Don’t vote for any candidate because he belongs to your faith. Are you sure of his character? Are you sure he is competent? Vote for workaholics and seasoned technocrats. Vote for credible candidates. Vote for probity, accountability and transparency. Vote for men and women of honour. Vote for integrity.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MAKE THE SULTAN IMMUNE TO DEPOSITION

6^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MAKE THE SULTAN IMMUNE TO DEPOSITION 

Hundreds of youths staged a demonstration round the city of Sokoto on Monday, 4^th March, 2019 against the purported plan by a political party to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar OFR, mni, once the party seizes the reins of power in Sokoto State. However, the chairman of the political party has debunked the allegation.      

Reacting to this development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said it is not enough for the allegation to be debunked. The Islamic human rights organization insisted that the sultanate must be given immunity from deposition. This position was made known in a press statement signed by MURIC’s Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 6^th March, 2019.

“There is need to go beyond mere debunking of this allegation to dethrone the Sultan”, MURIC said. “The system (the sultanate) must be strengthened in such a way that it is made impossible for anyone, governor or even president, to wake up one day and say he wants to depose the Sultan.

“We are talking of the head of all Muslims in Nigeria and a single person will just dethrone him just by snapping a finger. It is infra dignitatem. It had better not be. The Sultan does not head Sokoto sultanate alone. He is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). He deserves tons of respect.

“But the reality on ground goes beyond grandstanding. The extant laws are on the side of the state governor if he decides to depose the Sultan. Section 6 Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria empowers the governor to do that with any emir in his state. He hires and fires them. This was how Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki was removed by a military governor in 1996.  

“It was made possible because the Sultan is a traditional ruler. Yet Article 7 Section (i) of the Constitution of the NSCIA stipulates that the Sultan of Sokoto shall be its President-General. This shows that Section 6 Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria constitutes a potent threat to Article 7 Section (i) of the Constitution of the NSCIA.

“Our position is that one of the two must give way and we believe it has to be the Sokoto law on traditional rulers. This is because NSCIA constitution is national whereas the laws of Sokoto are for Sokoto state only. This law must be repealed to grant immunity to the Sultan. It will continue to affect other emirs but it will have no power on the Sultan.

“This has always been our position in MURIC. As the Director of MURIC, I advocated the repeal of this law in a lecture I delivered at the Sokoto Stadium on October 26, 2014 (http://www.informationng.com/2014/10/muric-advocates-immunity-for-sultan-against-deposition.html). It also formed the crux of some of our subsequent statements on the issue (https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/muric-seek-immunity-for-sultan-from-deposition.html; https://www.africanexaminer.com/dasukis-death-muric-condoles-sultan-demands-for-repeal-of-sultanate-law/).

“As things stand today, the onus is on the honourable members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly to do the needful. This law of Sokoto State and the constitution of the NSCIA are working at cross purposes. We cannot have a President-General who can be removed at will by a single person. Nobody will try that with the Christian Association of Nigeria. No governor or president can remove the president of CAN.

“We must also protect our Sultan. Freedom cannot be enjoyed by the naïve and the myopic in any society. It is time for a change. For the first time in decades, we have a Sultan who is highly mobile. Unlike other armchair leaders of the past, he has touched lives in all parts of the country. He has been articulate. He has promoted peaceful coexistence and demonstrated high level calmness even in the face of utmost provocation. This is a Sultan nulli secundus.

“We therefore call on the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly to take every necessary legislative measure to protect the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA. Nigerian Muslims do not wish to face another monumental embarrassment and constitutional confusion.

“MURIC charges Mr. Speaker to set the machinery in motion for a speedy amendment of Section 6 CAP 26 which says inter alia, ‘The Governor after due enquiry and consultation with the persons concerned in the selection, may depose any chief or any head chief…’

“We hereby move that the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ be inserted after the words, ‘or any head chief’ in the aforementioned Section. It is obvious that this amendment is very simple. It requires the insertion of only five words ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to save millions of Nigerian Muslims from suffering vicarious punishment and the resultant collateral damage to the Muslim Ummah.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

BALANCE YOUR CABINET: MURIC TELLS FAYEMI

5^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

BALANCE YOUR CABINET: MURIC TELLS FAYEMI 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to ensure fairness in the composition of his cabinet. Dr. Fayemi, who became governor after the July 14 2018 gubernatorial election, is yet to announce a cabinet.

The request was made by the human rights organization in a statement released on Tuesday, 5^th March, 2019. The statement was signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“We have full confidence in Dr. Fayemi” MURIC said. “Though he is a Christian, he was fair to Muslims during his first term in office as governor of the state between 2010 and 2014. He appointed Muslims into his cabinet and also approved use of hijab for female Muslim students in the state’s public schools. We expect him to continue the good work.

“But his successor, Ayodele Fayose, was a big disappointment, a square peg in a square hole. He was a bigoted Christian and a Muslim-hater primus inter pareil. He ran an all-Christian administration. All 14 commissioners, all 14 permanent secretaries, all board chairmen (except the Muslim pilgrims board) were Christians. The secretary to the state government and even Fayose’s chief of staff were both Christians. He refused to make any amendments despite repeated complaints by the Muslims.

“Under Fayose’s watch, Muslims were brutally attacked inside mosques by sponsored masquerades. Under Fayose’s watch, mosques were pulled down in the state while Arabic schools were shut. Fayose’s four years were years of executive brigandage. He will go down in history as the worst governor Ekiti State ever had.

“Muslims in Ekiti State cannot just leave everything to chance after such a nightmarish four-year term under Fayose. Their Allah-given fundamental rights have been trampled upon for too long. They were denied the right to hold political posts, the right to participate in governance, the right to gainful employment and, by inference, the right to have access to economic means of survival.

“MURIC has a duty to speak up for such people. The Glorious Qur’an says, ‘Why should you not rise in the cause of Allah to defend men, women and children who are oppressed due to their weakness? The weak ones cry out, “Our Lord! rescue us from this city (Ekiti State?) whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect us, and send to us a helper!’” (Qur’an  4:75-76). 

 Ekiti Muslims have been oppressed, downpressed and repressed. They cried out at the time and MURIC echoed their cry in compliance with the above verse. We are now asking the incumbent to rise to the task. Having suffered under ‘Fir‘awn’ (Pharaoh) for four consecutive years, Ekiti Muslims need a ‘protector’ (Waliyy) and a ‘helper’ (Nasir) at this hour.    

“We therefore look forward to Governor Fayemi to rise to the occasion. We have always maintained that the religion of our president or governor in Nigeria does not matter so long as there is good governance. Merit should be the yardstick. We will always support a good Christian or a good Muslim who is credible, transparent, diligent, who respects the rule of law and who is fair to all. Sentimentality is a luxury in which MURIC does not indulge.  

“At present, both Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy are Christians. But we are very hopeful because the door is still open for several other appointments. We expect, in all fairness, that a Muslim will emerge as either chief of staff or secretary to the state government. This is apart from other cabinet and board appointments that should be fairly and proportionately shared between Christians and Muslims in the state. Once again, we reaffirm our reliance on Dr. Fayemi’s cool-headedness, his friendly mien and his gentlemanly disposition.

“As we draw the curtain, we reaffirm our full confidence in Governor Kayode Fayemi. This statement serves as a subtle reminder to the governor to give fair share to Muslims in his state as a right and as a form of redress for the misrule and tyranny suffered by them under Ayodele Fayose. In return, we charge Muslims in the state to cooperate fully with the incumbent.   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CAUTIONS GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES IN THE SOUTH WEST

4^th March, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CAUTIONS GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES IN THE SOUTH WEST 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has complained that its office has been inundated with reports about requests made by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from gubernatorial candidates in the South West. According to MURIC, some of the candidates have allegedly agreed with CAN to ban the use of hijab in public schools, to return public schools to missionaries and to cancel the hijrah and maolud holidays.       

MURIC, an Islamic human rights organization, made the complaint in a public statement signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 4^th March, 2019.

“We wish to caution gubernatorial candidates in the South Western states where elections are expected to hold on Saturday, 9^th March, 2019 against entering into any unholy, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional agreements with state branches of CAN or any individual or group of persons on issues pertaining to Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims in their states.

Such agreements are null and void and of no effect whatsoever. Whoever does so is on his own. Muslims of the region will not compromise their civil liberty. Neither will MURIC stand akimbo while any new state government takes away what Muslims have been enjoying in the past. Whoever is contemplating such an action must be prepared to face Muslims in the region in another long struggle. Only a governor who does not wish to enjoy peace in his state will think of doing such things.

We expect in-coming governors to work towards a harmonious relationship between the adherents of different faiths in their state. It will be most unwise, therefore, to displease one group at the expense of another. Gubernatorial candidates should note that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees religious freedom. Therefore, no governorship candidate should contemplate withdrawing any of the civil liberties enjoyed by Muslims in their states.

This statement is necessary in order to prepare the minds of gubernatorial aspirants. Nobody should say the Muslims did not give any warning. Ceteris paribus, Muslims are easy going, simple and peace-loving. They are ready to peacefully coexist with others if nobody attempts to trample on their religious freedom. A word is enough for the wise.

To cap the edifice, we affirm that what matters to MURIC most is good governance. The political parties have picked candidates of their choice based on certain criteria. Our own parameter will be based on performance in the areas of raising the people’s standard of living, securing lives and properties, general welfare, equal rights and justice, particularly ensuring that Muslims are not shortchanged in any way. In a multi-religious environment like ours, we must stop insisting on having Muslims or Christians at the helm of affairs. We must jettison sentiment. Merit should be the watchword.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC ADVISES ATIKU TO IGNORE BAD ADVISERS

27^th February, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC ADVISES ATIKU TO IGNORE BAD ADVISERS 

Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has reportedly advised the candidate of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to form a parallel government and order civil disobedience. This was sequel to the declaration of the results of the 2019 presidential election which was won by the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari.

But the Islamic human rights organization, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted this advice. In a press release issued on the evening of Wednesday, 27^th February, 2019, the group described Fani-Kayode’s advice as a voice from the pit of hell. The statement was signed by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“It is an advice from the pit of hell. Don’t believe Fani-Kayode. He is an advocatus diaboli. He is eyeing a seat in your cabinet if you form a parallel government. Your status is well above what he asked you to do. As an ex-vice president of Nigeria, you know the implications of forming a parallel government. That is high treason.

“Ordering civil disobedience also has serious repercussions. Apart from causing a lot of suffering for the people, irredentist groups and opportunists will cash in on it. Are you ready to lead an insurrection? Besides, civil disobedience will fail because its effect will only be partially felt in the South East and only for a few days. But do you want to descend to the level of Nnamdi Kanu? It will endanger your interests in the North.  

“Perhaps the worst impact of ordering civil disobedience will be attacks on Northerners in the East. This is most likely to be followed by retaliatory attacks by Northerners on people of the South East.

“MURIC advises Your Excellency not to rush into anything irrational. We advise you to distance yourself from people like Femi Fani-Kayode. He is bad news. Fani-Kayode is a Muslim hater. You are a Muslim. The same Fani-Kayode has championed an anti-Fulani and anti-caliphate campaign. How could you have forgotten so soon?

“Don’t allow him to incite you against your Northern brother. No matter how bad the situation may be, President Muhammadu Buhari is your brother in Islam. You are both Fulani. Fani-Kayode has a hidden agenda. He holds Northerners in contempt. He will destroy you. Those of us who are preachers of Islam know what we face from people like him. We know the amount of hate messages we receive everyday from Muslim-haters. They are not your true friends. Don’t fall for a cheap trick.

“Fani-Kayode is a pathological liar. Didn’t he tell us that President Muhammadu Buhari was dead long ago? Now the ‘dead’ man has been re-elected. He sold the idea of Jubril of Sudan to us in another desperate bid to destroy the man he hates. He can go to any length. His latest gimmick is to set a Muslim against a Muslim and a Northerner against a Northerner. Can’t you get it?

“We advise Alhaji Atiku Abubakar not to touch Fani-Kayode and his cohorts with a long pole. Fani-Kayode’s friend, Ayodele Fayose said he would commit suicide if President Muhammadu Buhari returned alive from London during his illness. Nigerians are still waiting to know when he will kill himself.

“The worst scenario we expect from Atiku is a recourse to litigation, not ordering civil disobedience or forming a parallel government. That will be an extreme measure, condescending and pedestrian. But at this stage it is better to accept everything as the wish of Allah. Submission to the will of Allah is the way of Islam. It is better than wasting your money on judicial proceedings. Jackals will feed fat on you.

“As we rise from this session, we remind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of an hadith Qudusiy in which Almighty Allah said, ‘Whoever is not pleased with my decision, let him find another sky different from mine. Let him find another earth apart from my earth’. Allah loves those who submit to him in humility”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)