ALAAFIN : MAKINDE MUST FOLLOW DUE PROCESS – MURIC

 

23^rd September, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ALAAFIN : MAKINDE MUST FOLLOW DUE PROCESS – MURIC

    

Following controversies surrounding the selection of the next Alaafin of Oyo, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, to follow due process. According to the organization, due process involves announcing Lukman Gbadegesin, the candidate picked by the Oyomesi, as indicated in a document signed by the seven Oyomesi authorities.

 

 

This was revealed in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 20^th September, 2023 by the executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“There has been prolonged controversy over the right candidate to become the next Alaafin of Oyo since the demise of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on 22^nd April, 2022 at the age of 83.

 

 

“The authentic kingmakers of Oyo who are known as Oyomesi have kicked against the nomination of Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu who is 85 years old for lack of due process. A document published in various newspapers two days ago and signed by the seven Oyomesi revealed that the candidate duly selected by the rightful kingmakers of the ancient town is Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin.

 

 

“The Oyomesi group affirmed that they had forwarded the name of Prince Gbadegesin to the governor since 4^th October 2022. According to them, the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola wrongfully picked another candidate, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and filed a suit against them in court but he lost the case.

 

 

“This implies that the Alaafin throne has been vacant for almost one and a half years. We urge Governor Makinde to make hay while the sun shines. It is now time to announce the name of the candidate picked by the Oyomesi and backed by the court’s pronouncement.

 

 

“Archbishop Ladigbolu’s attempt to come through the backdoor to the throne of the Alaafin of Oyo is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. Communal clashes which claim hundreds of lives and destroy properties worth billions of naira will be avoided if state governors respect the rule of law and follow due process. Vested interest from official circles in matters relating to tradition often end in tragedies.

 

 

“Tongues are wagging, not only in Oyo town but in the whole state as well as in the whole South West. This time around, Governor Makinde has to prove that the label given to him as the governor who likes to install Christians only as Yoruba kings is unsuitable for him.  

 

 

“This year alone, it happened in Ogbomosho where a Redeemed Church pastor, Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, was crowned as king and in Iseyin where another pastor, David Olawale Oyebola has emerged the Aseyin.

 

 

“As a peace-loving and dialogue-inclined human rights organization, MURIC urges the state governor to allow the choice of the authentic kingmakers of Oyo town to prevail by announcing Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the next Alaafin of Oyo without any delay.”

#LukmanGbadegesin

#OyoStateGovernor

#RespectRuleOfLaw
#AcceptOyomesiChoice

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ALL REGIONS, FAITHS, SECTIONS, DESERVE POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS - MURIC

 

18^th September, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ALL REGIONS, FAITHS, SECTIONS, DESERVE POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS - MURIC

    

An appeal has gone to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that all regions, faiths and sections benefit from political appointments made by his government while no ethnic group or faith is seen to be favoured above others. 

 

Making the appeal on Monday, 18th September, 2023 was the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. The head of the Islamic human rights organization added that appointments made so far by Tinubu are lopsided because they favoured mainly Yorubas and Christians. He advised the president to ensure balance in coming appointments. 

 

The full text reads:

 

"We are shocked to our marrows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been appointing Christians and Yorubas mainly to key positions since the inception of this administration at the expense of Muslims. For instance, five out of eight security chiefs appointed earlier are Christians. Ministerial posts have not been different.

 

“All five key appointments made by President Tinubu to revive the economy were given to Christians and Yorubas mainly. These new appointees include the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the newly nominated CBN Governor, Dr. Michael Cardoso, Hon. Zacch Adedeji, Acting Chairman, FIRS, the Chairman, Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele and Mr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser on Economic Affairs.

 

“Many competent Muslims who campaigned and voted Muslim-Muslim ticket during the presidential election were ignored. It is interesting to note that some of those Muslims are eminently qualified to hold key political offices since there are professors, engineers, medical doctors and holders of doctorate degrees among them.

 

“To add salt to injury, one of the best Muslim ministerial nominees, the man who championed the Muslim-Muslim ticket and mobilised the whole North behind Asiwaju has been jettisoned. Also, Professor Ali Isa Pantami who took the communication and digital economy to enviable heights during the last administration was ignored. Where, then, is our Muslim president, taking Nigerian Muslims?

 

“MURIC rejects this trending narrative that makes competence the raison d'etre for concentrating appointments in any particular tribe, religion or group. Government's tentacles should be spread nationwide in the search for competence. Neither should the need for skills be used as a cover for the marginalisation of some sections of Nigeria. 

 

“We assert clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that competence is not the monopoly of any tribe, faith or group. Talented Nigerians are to be found everywhere if sincere searches are conducted. 

 

“Besides, government should take the lion share of the blame if competent hands cannot be found in any section, creed or group for certain assignments. It means the government has not, ab initio, allowed educational and training facilities to be fairly and evenly distributed, or that government has failed to consciously integrate all segments of the Nigerian society. All sectors must therefore have equal opportunities to participate in governance.

 

“This regime must be wary of allegation of nepotism which the previous regime was accused of. Nigeria is a vast country with talented men and women in all nooks and crannies. Government must not just pick the low hanging skills or those on the water surface. It must send its underwater swimmers to dive below the surface in order to bring the gems to dry land.

 

"Our message to President Tinubu is this (and we want the president's handlers to take this to him) the cacophony of voices of dissatisfied Muslims has reached an unbearable crescendo such that MURIC is now constrained to speak up. People are complaining, particularly Muslims from the North and South West and they can only be ignored at the risk of foregoing 2027. 

 

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our Muslim brother but that should not stop us from criticising him if he does the wrong thing. The Prophet (SAW) said, "Help your brother when he is wronged and even when he is wrong..."

 

"Traceable as well as well known authors on social media are exchanging lopsided lists either tilted in favour of Christians who did not vote for the Muslim-Muslim ticket or in favour of Yorubas only. Such lists raise questions of nepotism and that of marginalisation of the same Muslims who stood behind Asiwaju and voted massively for him. 

 

The pervading hunger everywhere in the land may force some regions to seek a pound of flesh in 2027 if they are denied political appointments where it matters. In particular, President Tinubu should ensure that the North, which was his strategic ally in the 2023 presidential election, is not stinted of political appointments, otherwise he will destroy the thin veneer of solidarity which currently exists between the North and the South West.

 

"We remind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that all regions, faiths and sections deserve political appointments. The Tinubu administration must not be the exclusive preserve of the Yorubas at the expense of other tribes, nor the monopoly of Rome at the expense of Madinah. No region must be sentenced to hunger, starvation and political isolation. 

 

"Tinubu's next appointments must see a shift in body language. All regions, faiths and sections must benefit from political appointments made by this government while no ethnic group or faith is seen to be favoured above others.

 

"Meanwhile we in MURIC accept full responsibility for the dilemma facing Nigerian Muslims as their Muslim-Muslim ticket has turned into a ‘Christian majority government’. We admit being in the forefront of the campaign for a Yoruba Muslim presidency which has become a bone in the throat of Yoruba Muslims in particular and Nigerian Muslims in general. 

 

"With heavy hearts, we tender unreserved apology, first, to the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for what we led him to even though he showed no interest at the beginning, and to other Nigerian Muslims particularly those who have been accusing us of misleading them. 

 

#SpreadPoliticalAppointments

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC TO CATHOLIC BISHOPS: STOP BULLYING JUDGES

 

12^th September, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO CATHOLIC BISHOPS: STOP BULLYING JUDGES

    

Sequel to the judgement delivered by the five-man Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) which ruled unanimously in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has warned the Supreme Court not to bend the law in favour of anyone.

 

 

The warning came on Sunday, 10^th September, 2023 during the opening ceremony of the 2023 second plenary assembly of the CBCN.

 

 

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted the catholic bishops. In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 12^th September, 2023, the organisation accused the bishops of insincerity, double-speaking, bias against those who won the case at the tribunal and bullying of Supreme Court judges.

 

The full statement reads :

 

“The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, on Sunday 10^th September, 2023 descended heavily on the verdict of the five-man Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) which ruled unanimously in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Ugorji also warned the Supreme Court not to bend the law in favour of anyone (https://www.legit.ng/politics/1553306-atiku-obi-tinubu-catholic-bishops-faults-pepc-sends-warning-supreme-court/).

 

 

“MURIC finds the bishops’ stand on the verdict pregnant with insincerity, double standard and bias against the defendants. In particular, we find the bullying of Supreme Court judges debasing, denigrating and totally unacceptable.  

 

 

“It is a manifestation of insincerity for the bishops to first reject the tribunal’s verdict and to follow it up by warning the Supreme Court judges ‘Not to bend the law in favour of anyone’.

 

 

“Nigerians need to contextualise the warning against the background of an existing judgement given in favour of ‘someone’ already while juxtaposing it with the bishops’ rejection of that judgement. Had there been no judgement at all in favour of anyone had been good, but there is a subsisting judgement which the bishops are faulting.

 

 

“It simply means the bishops spoke with a mindset. They have a favourite. They have a candidate and what they mean is this, ‘Oh ye judges of the Supreme Court, the tribunal has ruled in favour of ‘someone’ but we have rejected it because the judges ‘adopted a dismissive approach’. We therefore warn you ahead. Your ruling will be rejected by us if it also fails to favour our candidate.’

 

 

“We are pleasantly surprised that the bishops described a judgement document of more than 798 pages as ‘dismissive approach’. The voluminous document that got many of the lawyers sleeping in court as it took fourteen hours to deliver. The learned judges were meticulous in their delivery of the judgement. To call that ‘dismissive’ is to be guilty of premeditated trivialization.

 

“Yet the bishops engaged in double-speaking when they described the delivery of the judgement as ‘marathon’. The gap between ‘dismissive approach’ and ‘marathon’ delivery is like the distance between heaven and earth. Such inconsistency is unexpected of men of the bishops’ caliber whom many look upon as models and leaders.

 

 

“We expected the catholic bishops to seize the opportunity of the second plenary of the seminary to lecture the authors of the plethora of prophecies about the outcome of the election, and even that of the tribunal judgment, all of which turned out to be false. They became a monumental embarrassment.

 

“As leaders the bishops also failed to advise the opposition against cyber bullying, threats, insults, abuses and blackmail. That is not how we should continue in Nigeria.

 

“We were disappointed that the bishops failed to advise the opposition on global best practices among the electorate and the citizenry generally.  Perhaps the bishops are comfortable when judges and members of their families are threatened and when the pictures of people’s children are sent to them as threats.

 

“Instead of speaking out against these bohemian attitudes, the bishops decided to set bad precedent by sending a chilling warning to judges of the Supreme Court. The only achievement expected in that warning is the emboldening of characters behind cyber-bullying, threats and insults and the depletion of confidence and trust in the nation’s judiciary.

 

“For deciding to issue this jaundiced statement, and for warning the highly revered judges of the Supreme Court, the bishops have proved that they are worse than the Obedients. There is no difference between that warning and the threats issued by the Obedients

“By issuing that warning, the bishops became impediments to a free judiciary. It is not only a tyrannical government that can be a threat to the independence of the judiciary and its freedom, a belligerent citizenry as well as any arrogant institution or group, whether social or spiritual, that proves unwilling to submit to the rule of law can equally constitute cogs in the wheel of freedom of the judiciary.

 

“The judiciary must be free from fear of physical, psychological and spiritual attacks to be able to deliver judgement without fear or favour whereas the bishops’ warning was calculated to create fear in the judges of the Supreme Court even before the case files reach their tables. It is calculated to coerce the judges to make judicial pronouncements that will favour the bishops’ favourite candidate.

 

“It is unclerical to bully judges and, by the way, only those whose cases are watery and without merit try to intimidate judges. Only men of little faith do. This is what the bishops are expected to have in abundance (faith) by virtue of their calling. Nigerians are tremendously disappointed. It is demeaning. The bishops and all Nigerians must have tons of faith in the judges that the Nigerian judiciary may remain credible.

 

“MURIC charges judges of the Supreme Court to ignore the veiled threat from the Catholic bishops and to confront the case brought before them with truth, strength, vigour and faith.

 

“To all judges we say, ‘Stand firm like the Rock of Gibraltar and fear not. Your chamber is hallowed and your profession most noble. Men of conscience will stand by you but, above all, Almighty God will vindicate you’."

#StopBullyingJudges

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ATTACK ON VP SHETTIMA: MURIC SLAMS ATIKU'S AIDE

 

10^th September, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ATTACK ON VP SHETTIMA: MURIC SLAMS ATIKU'S AIDE

   

Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, an aide to former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, 8^th September, 2023 accused Vice President Kashim Shettima of aiding and abetting Boko Haram insurgents during his tenure as governor of Borno State. He specifically accused Shettima of aiding the abduction of the Chibok girls.

 

 

But an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has slammed Atiku’s aide for making fraudulent charges against Vice President Kashim Shettima. MURIC described the aides allegations as false, malicious, odious and insidious.  

 

 

MURIC’s response was contained in a statement circulated among newsmen on Sunday 10^th September, 2023 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, an aide to former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, 8^th September, 2023 accused Vice President Kashim Shettima of aiding and abetting Boko Haram insurgents during his tenure as governor of Borno State. He specifically accused the VP of aiding the abduction of the Chibok girls (https://gazettengr.com/you-aided-chibok-girls-abduction-opened-floodgates-of-terror-in-borno-atikus-aide-fires-back-at-shettima/).

 

 

“We are confounded both by the weight and intensity of these allegations, particularly against a sitting vice president. They are false, malicious, odious and insidious. They are simply lies from the pit of Jahannam.

 

 

“Somebody must have locked the medulla oblongata of Mr. Phrank Shaibu and thrown the key away, otherwise he would not turn the pages of history upside down the way he has just done. How could any rational being accuse VP Shettima of aiding Boko Haram?

 

 

“It is on record that former President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to withdraw federal troops from Borno State when Shettima as the state governor complained of a glaring lackadaisical approach from the federal government to the Boko Haram saga. He asked if Shettima would be able to stay in the government house if he withdrew federal troops.

 

 

“Jonathan’s exact words were, ‘I will pull them out for one month whether he (Shettima) will stay in that his Government House. But, if he thinks what he said is correct then I will pull out the armed forces for one month.’

 

 

“VP Shettima had complained to the visiting president that Boko Haram was gaining the upper hand in the region because Nigerian soldiers are not well armed. But an angry Jonathan gave him the cold response above (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/155704-jonathan-slams-borno-governor-over-comment-on-boko-haram.html?tztc=1). It was more than a response. It was a threat. It was like, ‘Behave, or I will unleash them on you.’

 

 

“We affirm that Shettima’s complaint was meant to attract better equipment for Nigerian soldiers so that they would be able to confront Boko Haram fighters more effectively. We are of the humble opinion that a governor who is aiding the insurgents would not make such a request, instead, he would have joined the indifferent camp of looters of funds meant for the purchase of weapons for Nigerian soldiers. Shaibu’s allegation against VP Shettima is therefore frivolous, mischievous and luciferous.

 

 

“Of course events later proved VP Shettima right as reports of the $2.1 million arms fund investigation later revealed that indeed Nigerian soldiers were deprived of weapons and money meant to buy them was shared among Jonathan’s partymen.

 

 

MURIC also knocked Atiku’s aide for accusing Shettima of aiding the abduction of the Chibok girls.

 

 

“We are equally miffed by Phrank Shuaibu’s allegation that VP Shettima aided the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. It is on record that former President Jonathan refused to act for nineteen (19) days after the abduction of the poor girls (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/president-goodluck-jonathans-fallouts-chibok/). It is therefore the zenith of mischief for Atiku’s aide to accuse Shettima of involvement in the ugly incident.

 

 

“Official duplicity cannot be totally ignored. For example, in the case of Dapchi where 110 girls were abducted, the governor of Yobe at the time alleged that soldiers were withdrawn a week before the attack (https://www.thecable.ng/yobe-gov-boko-haram-attacked-dapchi-week-troops-withdrawn).

 

 

“MURIC admonishes Phrank Shuaibu to look elsewhere for those responsible for lapses in the attack on the Chibok girls. We have no doubt that he does not have to look far, behind his shoulders, perhaps.”

 

#ChibokConspiracyNotShettima

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).