10th
August,
2020
PRESS
RELEASE:
STOP
MARGINALIZING MUSLIMS: MURIC TELLS TARABA GOV
The Nigerian Muslim rights advocacy group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
has accused Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State of marginalising
Muslims and non-Jukuns in the state in political appointments and denying them
gainful employment.
This was disclosed
in a press statement circulated among journalists by the Director of MURIC,
Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 10th August, 2020.
MURIC
said, “We have genuine cassu belli to interrogate the actions of the governor
of Taraba State. He is oppressing Taraba Muslims and non-Jukuns. Under his
watch, all sectors of the state have been christianised. From education to
employment and political appointments, Muslims and non-Jukuns are relegated to
the background.
“Primordialism, parochialism, exclusivism, religious bigotry featuring
preferrential consideration for Christians and the Jukun tribe over
Muslims and other tribes in virtually every aspect of governance is what
Muslims and non-Jukun tribes have been facing in Taraba State for the past five
years.
“Taraba Muslims
face discrimination when seeking admission into higher institutions.
Scholarships are the exclusive preserve of Christians. Jobs are laundered
through the churches and letters of reference from pastors and deacons are
automatic passports for employment. Promotion from one grade to another is
decided by virtue of faith. Even death benefits of Muslims are withheld while
those of Christians are paid pronto.
“Governor
Darius must be interrogated by MURIC. Nigerian Muslims want to know why ten out
of the fourteen commissioners in the state are Christians when twelve out of
the sixteen local governments are predominated by Muslim populations. Why are
the vice chancellor, rector, provost and heads of the state-owned university,
polytechnic, college of education, health technology institute and school of
nursing Christians? Darius has a case to answer.
“Your Excellency,
kindly explain to Nigerians why your Muslim subjects and non-Jukuns are
considered not qualified to hold political posts. What is the minimum
educational qualification to become eligible for the post of commissioner in
Taraba State? What are the educational qualifications of those appointed to
justify the exclusion of Muslims and other tribes?
“Mr. Governor
sir, is it only the Christians in your state who are paying tax? If the Muslims
and non-Jukuns are tax-payers, why do you exclude them from political
appointments and employments? That is your exclusivism. Why must Christians
alone sit on the common patrimony of the Taraba people through appointments and
employments which are denied Muslims and non-Jukuns? That is your
christianisation.
“Peace
continues to elude your state because of this gross imbalance and open
partiality. Only meritocracy and credibility can win peace. Taraba must set
primordial sentiments like faith and ethnicity aside for the state to
experience genuine peace and progress.
“MURIC appeals to other governors throughout the length
and breadth of Nigeria to allow the composition and variety of their state’s population
to truly reflect in the appointments and employments in their states, not only
in matters of faith but also of ethnicity. Governors should not lean heavily
towards their clans or religion at the expense of all others. This
consideration should be without prejudice to merit.
“Make no mistake about our mission. MURIC is
not attacking Christianity. We are on a mission for the promotion of good
governance and peaceful coexistence. Governors, whether Christian or Muslim,
must allow even development of manpower across boards. Citizens must be given
equal access to education, employment and political appointments. This will
have a direct bearing on peaceful coexistence, productivity and progress.
Christian and Muslim politicians must not go into politics with the agenda of
vengeance. Governors who are openly hostile to particular faiths or tribes are
suffering from desertification of genuine values of patriotism and nationalism.
“Those who sincerely desire peace must realise that
justice is the soul of peace. No one denies one and enjoys the other at the
same time. The reason for the industrial and technological progress in
developed countries is their ability to pursue meritocracy. Workers are
employed based on their qualifications and abilities, not on their religious
and tribal affiliations while none is denied employment on the basis of his or
her faith.
“In our concluding remarks, we invite Governor
Darius Dickson Ishaku to unite citizens of his state by addressing the
complaints of Muslims and non-Jukuns. We suggest the setting up of a Committee
on Good Governance with a view to plugging the holes in Muslim and non-Jukun
circles.”
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC)
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